WEST LINDSEY LOCAL WILDLIFE SITES REVIEW
2007 Report
from strength to strength
WEST LINDSEY LOCAL WILDLIFE SITES REVIEW
2007 Report
March 2008
White Young Green Environmental Ltd accept no responsibility or liability for any use which is made of this document other than by the Client for the purpose for which it was originally commissioned and prepared.
Reference: E011753 Issue Prepared by Verified by V1 07.03.08 V2 - V3 - V4 - Richard Penson Simon Thomas
White Young Green Environmental Ltd, Executive Park, Avalon Way, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7GR Tel: 0116 234 8100 Fax: 0116 234 8002 Email: [email protected]
SITE NAME: Grid Reference
Bass Wood & Park Springs Wood S K 8 4 5 8 8 3 SITE sub-division Date 1 7 0 5 0 7 RECORDER(S) Time on site P Benyon & R Wardle 01hrs mins
HABITATS (MAIN/ADDITIONAL) CONSTRAINTS Woodland + Running water Early/late survey Scrub – scattered Spring/flush Short visit Scrub – dense Standing water + Weather Hedgerow – spp rich + Marsh/fen + Terrain Hedgerow – spp poor Reedbed Vegetation Grassland – neutral Saltmarsh Grassland – calcareous Mudflat Grassland – damp Sand dune Grassland – acid Saline lagoon Heathland Ruderal Acid peatland
SITE DESCRIPTION
Bass Wood comprises two thirds of the site with Park Springs Wood occupying the western third.
Bass Wood is a managed, largely broadleaf plantation of various aged blocks, ranging from mature oak standards through to cleared and recently replanted areas.
Section 1 - Tall planted oak trees with hazel and some holly. Ground flora with wood anemone, early purple orchid and yellow archangel.
Section 2 - More mixed plantation with silver birch, sweet chestnut and pine. Ground flora with abundant bramble and woodland species limited to 1st 50m from west end.
Section 3 - Tall ash and oak with lush understorey of hazel, sycamore, young ash and hawthorn, small leaved lime. Range of woodland species including wood anemone, bluebell, early purple orchid, dog’s mercury, common dog violet, yellow archangel, enchanter’s nightshade, herb Bennet and herb Robert.
Section 4 - Block of felled and recently re-planted with oak. Frequent willow scrub.
Section 5 - Block recently coppiced with tall oaks, ash, small leaved lime, brashed. Very open with lush ground flora reflecting areas of damp ground in addition to previously noted woodland species. Patches of meadowsweet, bugle, wild angelica, tufted hair grass, lesser celandine, hybrid avens, ground ivy, pignut and sanicle. Re-growth of wild privet and guelder rose.
Section 6 - Further area felled and recently re-planted. Frequent willow scrub.
Section 7 - Most natural looking part of the wood with standards, coppice and well developed understorey. Approximately 60m from north west boundary of this section x 2 wild service trees recorded. SITE DESCRIPTION contd
Section 8 - Park Springs Wood: Conifers felled leaving tall oak and ash with a few sycamores. Re- growth of hawthorn, hazel, sycamore with bramble. Large patches of dog’s mercury. South east corner edge of wood, star of Bethlehem and two old small-leaved limes.
Section 9 - Area of decent woodland with multi-stemmed small-leaved limes.
Section 10 - Further area of felled woodland.
Woodland edge habitat often diverse range of woody species including spindle, field maple, alder buckthorn and crab apple not seen in woodland areas proper. Further wild service tree recorded along southern boundary.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Veteran trees Anthills Areas of frequent/prolonged flooding Pollarded trees Bare ground Seasonally wet/damp + Standing/fallen wood + Rock outcrops Earthworks + Sap runs/holes Steep slopes Ridge and furrow Tussocky vegetation South facing slopes Appropriate management + Abundant nectar sources Invasive spp Inappropriate management Varied sward height Access Education potential
Early purple orchid Section 5 Wild service trees north west boundary Section 7 ASSESSMENT
Ancient Semi-natural Woodland Register: Sections 1, 2 and 3 shown as ancient re-planted; rest of wood shown as Ancient semi-natural (see attached).
Lincolnshire Wildlife Sites Guidelines: Qualifies under WD1, WD2 and WD3
Most of woodland would appear to qualify under WD1: semi-natural woodland listed in Lincolnshire ancient woodland inventory or Humberside ancient woodland inventory. The current survey indicates that parts have been recently felled and re-planted and Park Springs wood (Section 8) did have conifers, which have been felled. However, even if the area of semi-natural ancient woodland is smaller than shown in the inventory, the site qualifies under other criteria.
Table 1: Woodland Plants. Site has score of at least 21 (10 species minimum for qualification under WD2 & WD3)
Small parts of the woodland are likely to qualify under WD2: Woodland with characteristics of semi-natural ancient woodland that does not appear in an ancient woodland inventory with a minimum species index score of 10 (site score at least 21).
Rest of Woodland qualifies under WD3: Woodland not covered by other criteria with a minimum species index score of 10 (site score at least 21).
Site thus clearly meets criteria for retention of Local Wildlife Site (LWS) status. SPECIES LIST
Common Name Binomial Name Trees & Shrubs Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Sweet chestnut Castanea sativum Small-leaved lime Tilia cordata Ash Fraxinus excelsior Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Hazel Corylus avellana Field maple Acer campestre Guelder rose Viburnum opulus Spindle Euonymus europaeus Crab apple Malus sylvestris Wild service tree Sorbus torminalis Scot's pine Pinus sylvestris Holly Ilex aquilinum Alder buckthorn Frangula alnus
Forbs Wood anemone Anemone nemorosa Early purple orchid Orchis mascula Yellow archangel Lamiatsrum galeobdelon Male fern Dryopteris felix-mas Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bugle Ajuga reptans Dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis Cuckoo-pint Arum maculatum Common dog violet Viola riviniana Enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana Herb robert Geranium robertianum Herb bennet Geum urbanum Water avens Geum rivale Hybrid avens Geum x intermedium Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria Angelica Angelica sylvestris Tufted hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa Wild privet Ligustrum vulgare Lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria Sanicle Sanucula europea Pignut Conopodium majus Remote sedge Carex remota Hairy St John's wort Hypericum hirsutum Ground ivy Glechoma hederacea Star of Bethlehem Ornithogalum angustifolium Legend
Topo_Line_polyline
SSSI and SNCI_region
S.N.C.I.
SNCI SSSI
Bass Wood xxx
DW xxx xxx Legend
Broad-leaved Plantation
7 8 4 1 3 6 5 2
9 10 5
Bass Wood
West Lindsay District Council SNCI Review
DW 31/5/07
E011753 SITE NAME Grid Reference CAISTOR’S WOOD S K 8 4 9 8 7 5
SITE sub-division Date West Lindsey 1 8 0 5 0 7
RECORDER(S) Time on site Roger Wardle 2 hrs 30 mins
HABITATS (MAIN/ADDITIONAL) CONSTRAINTS Woodland M Running water Early/late survey Scrub – scattered Spring/flush Short visit Scrub – dense Standing water Weather Hedgerow – spp rich A Marsh/fen Terrain Hedgerow – spp poor Reedbed Vegetation Grassland – neutral Saltmarsh Grassland – calcareous Mudflat Grassland – damp Sand dune Grassland – acid Saline lagoon Heathland Ruderal Acid peatland
Site Description
This wood forms part of a larger woodland complex (which includes Thurlby Wood and Top Fox Covert the latter wood not being part of the survey area). Caistor’s Wood is located on heavy boulder clay and has all the trademarks of former hazel coppice, now unmanaged but in places a good density of stools survive under the mature standards and regenerated younger native species.
The western end is dominated by ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and field maple (Acer campestre), some of the latter having grown into good size for the species. Other trees include birch (Betula pendula), elm (Ulmus agg), small leaved lime (Tilia cordata) and oak (Quercus robur). The shrub layer is mostly hazel (Corylus avellana) coppice but other parts have a more scrubby structure with blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), bramble (Rubus fruticosus), honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), spindle (Euonymus europaeus) and alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus). The ground flora at this end is often dominated by dog’s mercury (Mercurialis perennis) but also contains yellow arch- angel (Lamasiastrum galeobdolon), bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) and early purple orchid (Orchis mascula). There is what appears to be a wood bank at the west end of the wood.
The eastern part of the wood is similar but oak standards are present in places.
The site has very sympathetic owners. With this in mind an approach will be made to them to consider management options using funds from the English Woodland Grant Scheme. ADDITIONAL FEATURES Veteran trees Anthills Areas of frequent/prolonged flooding Pollarded trees Bare ground * Seasonally wet/damp * Standing/fallen wood * Rock outcrops Earthworks * Sap runs/holes * Steep slopes Ridge and furrow Tussocky vegetation South facing slopes Appropriate management Abundant nectar sources Invasive spp Inappropriate management Varied sward height Access Education potential
General view at the east end of the wood, showing coppice with standards.
ASSESSMENT Ancient Semi-natural Woodland Register: The majority of Caistor’s Wood is shown as Ancient semi-natural although the extreme north east corner shows as Ancient re-planted woodland.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Site Guidelines: Qualifies under WD1 and WD2.
Most of the woodland would appear to qualify under WD1: semi-natural woodland listed in Lincolnshire ancient woodland inventory. The MAGIC map indicates that the north east corner of the wood has been felled in the past and re-planted although no conifers were recorded.
Table 1: Woodland Plants. The site has a score of 13 (10 species minimum for qualification under WD2).
The site clearly meets the criteria for retention of Local Wildlife Site (LWS) status. SPECIES LIST
Trees and Shrubs
Acer campestre – Field maple Alnus glutinosa – Alder Betula pendula – Silver birch Corylus avellana – Hazel Crataegus monogyna - Hawthorn Euonymus europaeus – Spindle Frangula alnus – Alder-buckthorn Fraxinus excelsior – Ash Ilex aquifolium – Holly Prunus domestica – Wild plum Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn Quercus robur – Pedunculate oak Rosa sp. – Rose species Salix caprea – Goat willow Tilia cordata – Small-leaved lime Ulmus sp. – Elm species
Forbs, Grasses and Ferns
Ajuga reptans – Bugle Anemone nemorosa – Wood anemone Anthriscus sylvestris – Cow parsley Arctium nemorosum – Wood burdock Arum maculatum – Wild arum Brachypodium sylvaticum – Wood false-brome Conopodium majus – Pignut Dryopteris felix-mas – Male fern Filipendula ulmaria – Meadowsweet Geranium robertianum – Herb-Robert Geum rivale – Water avens Geum urbanum – Wood avens (Herb Bennet) Geum x intermedium – Hybrid avens Heracleum sphondylium – Hogweed Hyacinthoides non-scripta – Bluebell Lamiastrum galeobdolon ssp. montanum– Yellow archangel Lonicera periclymenum - Honeysuckle Mercurialis perennis – Dog’s-mercury Orchis mascula – Early purple orchid Primula vulgaris – Primrose Prunella vulgaris – Self-heal Rubus fruticosus agg – Bramble species Ranunculus ficaria – Lesser celandine Stellaria holostea – Greater stitchwort Viola riviniana – Common dog-violet Legend
Caistor Wood Site Boundary ® Qualifying Section Potential Extension
Section No Longer Qualifies
Email: [email protected]
Thurlby and Caistor Wood
West Lindsay District Council SNCI Review
DW 25/02/08
E011753 SITE NAME: Grid Reference Lea Wood S K 8 3 5 8 7 8 SITE sub-division Date West Lindsey 1 8 0 5 0 7 RECORDER(S) Time on site R Wardle 03hrs mins
HABITATS (MAIN/ADDITIONAL) CONSTRAINTS Woodland + Running water Early/late survey Scrub – scattered + Spring/flush Short visit Scrub – dense Standing water + Weather Hedgerow – spp rich + Marsh/fen Terrain Hedgerow – spp poor Reedbed Vegetation Grassland – neutral Saltmarsh Grassland – calcareous Mudflat Grassland – damp Sand dune Grassland – acid Saline lagoon Heathland Ruderal Acid peatland
SITE DESCRIPTION
Re-planted woodland now split into 2 sections with the east part covering an area of approximately 23.60ha. The western section is much smaller but has not been surveyed to date because of difficulties with access permission and ownership.
Planted species include Scots pine, larch and sycamore, with abundant naturally re-generated silver birch. Intensive management has reduced many of the original species but there is still small leaved lime, alder buckthorn and ash, some of which may have been planted but others particularly around the boundaries are undoubtedly re-grown from felled trees. Sycamore is regenerating profusely throughout much of the woodland from the planted trees . Time was spent searching for wild service tree but it was not found, however not all the wood was searched and it may have been overlooked.
Both the ground flora and the understorey vary considerably throughout the wood. Areas towards the east have in places quite a dense shrub layer with blackthorn, hawthorn, bramble and honeysuckle. Other parts have a more open and in some cases relatively shrub free understorey where bracken, bluebells and wood anemone form a patchwork with barer areas.
The rides in the woodland where more open show signs of a greater range of common species such as bugle, tufted hair grass, giant fescue and many more but most notably nettle-leaved bellflower occasionally. A concerted search revealed an area with significant patches of lily of the valley, in the north east section of the wood particularly associated with what could be a wood bank that runs in a generally east west direction 20 or so metres from the woodland edge. ADDITIONAL FEATURES Veteran trees Anthills Areas of frequent/prolonged flooding Pollarded trees Bare ground + Seasonally wet/damp + Standing/fallen wood + Rock outcrops Earthworks + Sap runs/holes Steep slopes Ridge and furrow Tussocky vegetation South facing slopes Appropriate management + Abundant nectar sources Invasive spp + Inappropriate management Varied sward height Access Education potential
Patches of Lily of the valley ASSESSMENT Ancient Semi-natural Woodland Register: Section below track running east west through wood no classification. Woodland above track shown largely as ancient re-planted with small section south west as ancient semi-natural (see attached).
Lincolnshire Wildlife Sites Guidelines: Qualifies under WD1, WD2 and Mos2.
The small section in the south west qualifies under WD1: semi-natural woodland listed in Lincolnshire ancient woodland inventory or Humberside ancient woodland inventory. The current survey indicates that all the woodland has been intensively managed and re-planted. Survey back in 1977/78 described most of the woodland being semi-natural, save for eastern end which had been planted with conifers.
Table 1: Woodland Plants. Site has a score of at least 13 (10 species minimum for qualification under WD2 & WD3)
The rest of the wood north of the track is likely to qualify under WD2: Woodland with characteristics of semi- natural ancient woodland that does not appear in an ancient woodland inventory with a minimum species index score of 10.
The rest of the site not included as ancient semi-natural or ancient re-planted could qualify under Mos2: area of at least 0.1ha that adds to the wildlife value of adjacent land qualifying for LWS designation on habitat grounds.
The eastern section of the site (western third not yet surveyed) meets the criteria for retention of Local Wildlife Site (LWS) status. SPECIES LIST
Common Name Scientific Name Trees and Shrubs Alder buckthorn Frangula alnus Ash Fraxinus excelsior Aspen Populus tremula Beech Fagus sylvatica Blackthorn Prunus spinosa Corsican pine Pinus nigra Elder Sambucus nigra Field maple Acer campestre Goat willow Salix caprea Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Hazel Corylus avellana Holly Ilex aquilinum Larch Larix decidua Rowan Sorbus aucuparia Pedunculate oak Quercus robur Wild plum Prunus domestica Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum Scot's pine Pinus sylvestris Silver birch Betula pendula Small leaved lime Tilia cordata Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Wild privet Ligustrum vulgare Wild rose Rosa sp.
Forbs Lily of the valley Convallaria majalis Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum Bracken Pteridium aquilinum Bugle Ajuga reptans Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg Wood anemone Anemone nemorosa Greater burdock Arctium lappa Cuckoo pint Arum maculatum Nettle-leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium Wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum Remote sedge Carex remota Wood sedge Carex sylvatica Rose bay willowherb Chamerion angustifolium Marsh thistle Cirsium palustre Pignut Conopodium majus Male fern Dryopteris felix-mas Ground ivy Glechoma hederacea Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus Creeping soft grass Holcus mollis Bluebell Hyacinthoides non scripta Yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon Dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis Three-nerved sandwort Moehringia trinervia Tormentil Potentilla erecta Self-heal Prunella vulgaris Lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria Broad leaved dock Rumex obtusifolius Hedge woundwort Stachys sylvatica Greater stitchwort Stellaria holostea Dandelion Taraxacum officinalis agg. Stinging nettle Urtica dioica Legend
Site Boundary ® Qualifying Section Lea Wood Potential Extension
Section No Longer Qualifies
Email: [email protected]
Lea Wood
West Lindsay District Council SNCI Review
DW 25/02/08
E011753 SITE NAME Grid Reference LEGSBY GREEN LANE T F 1 4 1 8 4 1
SITE sub-division Date West Lindsey 0 3 0 8 0 7
RECORDER(S) Time on site Richard Penson 1 hrs 45 mins
HABITATS (MAIN/ADDITIONAL) CONSTRAINTS Woodland Running water Early/late survey Scrub – scattered Spring/flush Short visit Scrub – dense Standing water Weather Hedgerow – spp rich A Marsh/fen Terrain Hedgerow – spp poor A Reedbed Vegetation Grassland – neutral M Saltmarsh Grassland – calcareous Mudflat Grassland – damp M Sand dune Grassland – acid Saline lagoon Heathland Ruderal Acid peatland
Site Description
This site comprises a green lane extending between TF 142842 to TF 157852 and formerly contained semi-natural neutral (damp) grassland along its entire length. However, the majority of the site appeared to have been agriculturally improved at the time of the survey, with only an approximate 500m length at the eastern end being still species-rich.
This represents a drastic decline in quality over the majority of the green lane and also a drastic reduction in the length meeting the LWS criteria. The species-rich section extends between TF 149849 and the turning for Clump Hill Farm at TF 152849. The eastern end of the qualifying section of green lane can be extended up to the turning for Clump Hill Farm as shown on the plan. The grassland to the east of this turning is species-poor and does not merit consideration for LWS.
The northern hedgerows are still species-rich along almost the entire length of the surveyed area with a total of seven woody species recorded (plus climbers). The southern hedgerows by comparison were species-poor and dominated by blackthorn and hawthorn. ADDITIONAL FEATURES Veteran trees Anthills Areas of frequent/prolonged flooding Pollarded trees Bare ground Seasonally wet/damp * Standing/fallen wood Rock outcrops Earthworks Sap runs/holes Steep slopes Ridge and furrow Tussocky vegetation South facing slopes Appropriate management Abundant nectar sources Invasive spp Inappropriate management * Varied sward height Access Education potential
Species-rich section at Serratula tinctoria Stachys officinalis & Lotus eastern end of the green lane Saw-wort pedunculatus Betony and Greater bird’s-foot trefoil
ASSESSMENT This site was originally designated an SNCI in 1982 (survey date 22/09 but was resurveyed on 05/07 1988). It was designated a Grade A SNCI as a Green Lane (habitat code B222).
The original survey recorded diverse species-rich hedgerows, which still remain (at least on the northern side). The original survey states that “the most interesting area is approximately 1km long” but does not state which end of the lane this relates to. The majority of the plant species recorded from the site are still present although their distributions appear to have drastically reduced as the most interesting area is now approximately half of what was present in 1982 (approx 500m). Saw-wort is present but was not recorded in the original surveys.
The majority of the site no longer meets the LWS criteria for NG1 Semi-natural Neutral Grassland as it appears to have been agriculturally improved – with long stretches dominated by perennial rye-grass at the western end.
However, the extreme eastern end (as shown on the plan) from TF 149849 to TF 152849 meets the LWS criteria for NG1 Semi-natural Neutral Grassland as this section exceeds the size threshold and contains a species index of 12 from Table 2. This eastern section is exceptionally diverse for its size and provides a relic of what the original lane must have been like before agricultural improvement. The section qualifying as LWS to the east of the turning at TF 152849 represents an extension to the existing LWS, providing slight compensation for the section that no longer qualifies. SPECIES LIST
Majority of Site – Grasses Species-rich hedgerow (north side)
Agrostis stolonifera – Creeping bent Corylus avellana - Hazel Arrhenatherum elatius – False oat-grass Cornus sanguinea - Dogwood Bromopsis ramosa – Hairy brome Crataegus monogyna - Hawthorn Dactylis glomerata – Cock’s-foot Fraxinus excelsior - Ash Lolium perenne – Perennial rye-grass Hedera helix - Ivy Phleum pratense – Timothy Lonicera periclymenum - Honeysuckle Phragmites australis – Common reed (in ditches) Malus sylvestris – Crab apple Poa annua – Annual meadow-grass Quercus robur – Pedunculate oak Poa trivialis – Rough meadow-grass Rubus fruticosus agg – Bramble species Salix fragilis – Crack willow Majority of Site – Forbs
Centaurea nigra – Common knapweed Cirsium arvense – Creeping thistle Cirsium vulgare – Spear thistle Epilobium hirsutum – Great-hairy willowherb Filipendula ulmaria – Meadowsweet Geranium robertianum – Herb-Robert Geum urbanum – Wood avens Hedera helix – Ivy Lapsana communis – Nipplewort Plantago lanceolata – Ribwort plantain Potentilla reptans – Creeping cinquefoil Prunus spinosa – Blackthorn (seedlings) Ranunculus ficaria – Lesser celandine Ranunculus repens – Creeping buttercup Rubus fruticosus agg – Bramble species Rumex conglomeratus – Clustered dock Rumex obtusifolius – Broad-leaved dock Senecio vulgaris – Common groundsel Stachys sylvatica – Hedge woundwort Stellaria graminea – Lesser stitchwort Taraxacum officinale agg – Dandelion species Torilis japonica – Upright hedge-parsley Urtica dioica – Stinging nettle Veronica chamaedrys – Germander speedwell Vicia cracca – Tufted vetch SPECIES LIST
LWS Qualifying Section TF 149849 to TF 152849
Grasses
Agrostis capillaris – Common bent Aculeate Hymenoptera Anthoxanthum odoratum – Sweet vernal-grass Arrhenatherum elatius – False oat-grass Common carder-bee Brachypodium pinnatum – Tor-grass Calamagrostis epigejos – Wood small-reed Carex hirta – Hairy sedge Deschampsia caespitosa – Tufted hair-grass Holcus lanatus – Yorkshire-fog Phalaris arundinacea – Reed canary-grass
Forbs
Angelica sylvestris – Angelica Centaurea nigra – Common knapweed Epilobium hirsutum – Great-hairy willowherb Equisetum arvense – Field horsetail Filipendula ulmaria – Meadowsweet Hypericum perforatum – Perforate St. John’s-wort Hypochoeris radicata – Common cat’s-ear Lathyrus pratensis – Meadow vetchling Lotus pedunculatus – Greater bird’s-foot trefoil Potentilla erecta – Tormentil Ranunculus acris – Meadow buttercup Rhinanthus minor – Yellow rattle Sanguisorba officinalis – Great burnet Serratula tinctoria – Saw-wort Stachys officinalis – Betony Stellaria graminea – Lesser stitchwort Trifolium pratense – Red clover Vicia cracca – Tufted vetch
Butterflies
Small skipper Large White Small white Green-veined white Gatekeeper Speckled wood Meadow brown
Dragonflies
Southern hawker Legend
Site Boundary ® Qualifying Section Legsby Green Lane Potential Extension
Section No Longer Qualifies
Email: [email protected]
Legsby Green Lane
West Lindsay District Council SNCI Review
DW 25/02/08
E011753 SITE NAME: Grid Reference LINWOOD VERGE (EAST) T F 1 1 4 8 5 0
SITE sub-division Date West Lindsey 0 3 0 8 0 7
RECORDER(S) Time on site Richard Penson hrs 45 mins
HABITATS (MAIN/ADDITIONAL) CONSTRAINTS Woodland Running water Early/late survey Scrub – scattered Spring/flush Short visit Scrub – dense M Standing water Weather Hedgerow – spp rich Marsh/fen Terrain Hedgerow – spp poor A Reedbed Vegetation Grassland – neutral M Saltmarsh Grassland – calcareous Mudflat Grassland – damp Sand dune Grassland – acid Saline lagoon Heathland Ruderal Acid peatland
Site Description
This site is located on the east verge of Linwood Road (B1202), approximately 1km to the north of the village of Lissington, south of Eleanor Wood.
Extensive tree and scrub growth has occurred on this site, effectively halving the amount of grassland present when it was last surveyed in 1983. ADDITIONAL FEATURES Veteran trees Anthills Areas of frequent/prolonged flooding Pollarded trees Bare ground Seasonally wet/damp Standing/fallen wood Rock outcrops Earthworks Sap runs/holes Steep slopes Ridge and furrow Tussocky vegetation * South facing slopes Appropriate management Abundant nectar sources Invasive spp Inappropriate management * Varied sward height Access Education potential
ASSESSMENT
This site was originally designated a grade B SNCI following a survey in 1983 when several notable species were present including adder’s tongue fern, cowslip, pignut, water avens, glaucous sedge, field woodrush and lady’s bedstraw.
This verge no longer meets the LWS criteria for NG1 Semi-natural Neutral Grassland due to lack of management allowing dense growth of trees and scrub along the eastern boundary of the site and coarse grasses and ruderal species elsewhere. Only 3 indicator species from the NG1 Table 2 remain and those in very small quantity. None of the notable species present in 1983 could be found during the present survey, the habitat being no longer suitable for them.
The growth of dense scrub and trees has effectively halved the extent of grassland on this site. Given a sufficient length of time of appropriate management, this site could recover although it is likely to be a long-term process. SPECIES LIST
Grasses Trees and Scrub
Agrostis stolonifera – Creeping bent Acer pseudoplatanus - Sycamore Arrhenatherum elatius – false oat-grass Fraxinus excelsior - Ash Brachypodium pinnatum – Tor-grass Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn Dactylis glomerata – Cock’s-foot Deschampsia caespitosa – Tufted hair-grass Elytrigia repens – Common couch Festuca rubra – Red fescue Holcus lanatus – Yorkshire-fog Lolium perenne – Perennial rye-grass Phleum pratense - Timothy Poa trivialis – Rough meadow-grass
Forbs
Achillea millefolium – Yarrow Anthriscus sylvestris – Cow parsley Centaurea nigra – Common knapweed Cirsium arvense – Creeping thistle Epilobium hirsutum – great hairy willowherb Equisetum arvense – Field horsetail Filipendula ulmaria – Meadowsweet Heracleum sphondylium – Hogweed Lathyrus pratensis – Meadow vetchling Medicago lupulina – Black medick Plantago lanceolata – Ribwort plantain Plantago major – Greater plantain Potentilla anserina – Silverweed Prunus spinosa – Blackthorn (saplings) Ranunculus acris – Meadow buttercup Ranunculus repens – Creeping buttercup Rosa canina – Dog rose (saplings) Rubus fruticosus agg – Bramble species Rumex crispus – Curled dock Rumex obtusifolius – Broad-leaved dock Sonchus oleraceus – Smooth sow-thistle Taraxacum officinale agg – Dandelion species Tragopogon pratense – Goat’s-beard Trifolium pratense – Red clover Trifolium repens – White clover Urtica dioica – Stinging nettle Veronica chamaedrys – Germander speedwell Vicia cracca – Tufted vetch Legend
Site Boundary ® Qualifying Section Potential Extension
Section No Longer Qualifies
Eleanor Wood
Linwood Verges Bleasby and Lady Wood
?
Email: [email protected]
Linwood Verges
West Lindsay District Council SNCI Review
DW 25/02/08
E011753 SITE NAME Grid Reference NETTLETON SCARP SOUTH VERGE T A 1 1 9 0 0 1
SITE sub-division Date West Lindsey 0 2 0 8 0 7
RECORDER(S) Time on site Richard Penson hrs 30 mins
HABITATS (MAIN/ADDITIONAL) CONSTRAINTS Woodland Running water Early/late survey Scrub – scattered Spring/flush Short visit Scrub – dense Standing water Weather Hedgerow – spp rich Marsh/fen Terrain Hedgerow – spp poor Reedbed Vegetation Grassland – neutral M Saltmarsh Grassland – calcareous A Mudflat Grassland – damp Sand dune Grassland – acid Saline lagoon Heathland Ruderal M Acid peatland
Site Description
This site comprises the south verge of Mansgate Hill (Nettleton Scarp), with an adjacent species-poor hedgerow. This verge is narrower than that opposite and also slopes steeply downwards to the west. ADDITIONAL FEATURES Veteran trees Anthills Areas of frequent/prolonged flooding Pollarded trees Bare ground Seasonally wet/damp Standing/fallen wood Rock outcrops Earthworks Sap runs/holes Steep slopes Ridge and furrow Tussocky vegetation South facing slopes Appropriate management Abundant nectar sources Invasive spp Inappropriate management Varied sward height Access Education potential
ASSESSMENT This verge has declined in species-diversity, especially when compared to the north verge (opposite). Coarse grasses and ruderal species have extensively invaded this verge, with very few of the more interesting herbs now remaining.
This verge no longer meets the LWS criteria for CG1 Semi-natural Calcareous Grassland, as the species index is only 2.
The growth of coarse grasses and ruderal vegetation can be attributable to either lack of appropriate management or fertiliser drift from adjacent farmland. This site could feasibly recover given a sufficient length of time of appropriate management. SPECIES LIST
Grasses
Arrhenatherum elatius – False oat-grass Bromus sterilis – Barren brome Dactylis glomerata – Cock’s-foot Festuca rubra – Red fescue Holcus lanatus – Yorkshire-fog Lolium perenne – Perennial rye-grass Phleum bertolonii – Smaller cat’s-tail Poa annua – Annual meadow-grass Poa trivialis – Rough meadow-grass
Forbs
Anthriscus sylvestris – Cow parsley Arctium minus – Lesser burdock Centaurea nigra – Common knapweed Chamerion angustifolium – Rosebay willowherb Cirsium vulgare – Spear thistle Galium aparine – Cleavers Geranium robertianum – Herb-Robert Geum urbanum – Wood avens Heracleum sphondylium – Hogweed Knautia arvensis – Field scabious Lapsana communis – Nipplewort Matricaria discoidea – Pineapple-weed Medicago lupulina – Black medick Plantago lanceolata – Ribwort plantain Plantago major – Greater plantain Potentilla anserina – Silverweed Ranunculus acris – Meadow buttercup Ranunculus repens – Creeping buttercup Rubus fruticosus agg – Bramble species Rumex obtusifolius – Broad-leaved dock Rumex sanguineus – Wood dock Senecio jacobaea – Common ragwort Sonchus asper – Prickly sow-thistle Stachys sylvatica – Hedge woundwort Taraxacum officinale agg – Dandelion species Tragopogon pratense – Goat’s-beard Trifolium pratense – Red clover Tripleurospermum inodorum – Scentless mayweed Urtica dioica – Stinging nettle Veronica chamaedrys – Germander speedwell SITE NAME Grid Reference NETTLETON SCARP (NORTH VERGE) T A 1 1 9 0 0 2
SITE sub-division Date West Lindsey 0 2 0 8 0 7
RECORDER(S) Time on site Richard Penson hrs 45 mins
HABITATS (MAIN/ADDITIONAL) CONSTRAINTS Woodland Running water Early/late survey Scrub – scattered Spring/flush Short visit Scrub – dense Standing water Weather Hedgerow – spp rich A Marsh/fen Terrain Hedgerow – spp poor Reedbed Vegetation Grassland – neutral Saltmarsh Grassland – calcareous M Mudflat Grassland – damp Sand dune Grassland – acid Saline lagoon Heathland Ruderal Acid peatland
Site Description
This site comprises the northern verge of Mansgate Hill (Nettleton Scarp) and is composed of a mosaic of semi-natural calcareous and neutral grassland with an adjacent species-rich hedgerow in the eastern half of the verge at least. The verge slopes steeply downhill to the west. ADDITIONAL FEATURES Veteran trees Anthills Areas of frequent/prolonged flooding Pollarded trees Bare ground Seasonally wet/damp Standing/fallen wood Rock outcrops Earthworks Sap runs/holes Steep slopes Ridge and furrow Tussocky vegetation South facing slopes Appropriate management Abundant nectar sources Invasive spp Inappropriate management * Varied sward height Access Education potential
ASSESSMENT
This verge is becoming rank and overgrown with coarse grasses and tall ruderal species, especially in the western half (on the lower slope of the hill).
This section of verge no longer meets the LWS criteria for Semi-natural Calcareous Grassland as it has a species index of 6 from Table 3. Neither does it meet the LWS criteria for Semi-natural Neutral Grassland as it has a species index of 6 from Table 2.
However, it does meet the LWS criteria for Mos1: as it contains a mosaic of Semi-natural Calcareous and Neutral Grassland. It exceeds the size threshold and each habitat has a species- index of two points below the qualifying threshold. SPECIES LIST
Grasses
Arrhenatherum elatius – False oat-grass Calamagrostis epigejos – Wood small-reed Dactylis glomerata – Cock’s-foot Festuca rubra – Red fescue Holcus lanatus – Yorkshire-fog Lolium perenne – Perennial rye-grass Phleum bertolonii – Smaller cat’s-tail Phleum pratense – Timothy Poa trivialis – Rough meadow-grass
Forbs
Achillea millefolium - Yarrow Tragopogon pratense – Goat’s-beard Agrimonia eupatorium – Agrimony Trifolium pratense – Red clover Angelica sylvestris – Angelica (N) Trifolium repens – White clover Anthriscus sylvestris – Cow parsley Urtica dioica – Stinging nettle Centaurea nigra – Common knapweed (C. & N) Vicia tetrasperma – Smooth tare Centaurea scabiosa – Greater knapweed (C.) Cerastium fontanum – Common mouse-ear Chamerion angustifolium – Rosebay willowherb Cirsium arvense – Creeping thistle Convolvulus arvensis – Field bindweed Species-rich Hedgerow Crepis capillaris – Beaked hawk’s-beard Cruciata laevipes – Crosswort (C.) Acer campestre – Field maple Equisetum arvense – Field horsetail Acer pseudoplatanus - Sycamore Galium aparine – Cleavers Cornus sanguinea - Dogwood Heracleum sphondylium – Hogweed Corylus avellana - Hazel Hypochoeris radicata – Common cat’s-ear (N) Crataegus monogyna - Hawthorn Knautia arvensis – Field scabious (C.) Fraxinus excelsior - Ash Lactuca virosa – Great lettuce Rhamnus cathartica – Purging buckthorn Lathyrus pratensis – Meadow vetchling (N) Rosa canina – Dog rose Lamium album – White dead-nettle Sambucus nigra - Elder Lotus corniculatus – Bird’s-foot trefoil (C. & N) Viburnum lantana – Wayfaring tree Medicago lupulina – Black medick Myosotis arvensis – Field forget-me-not Butterflies Pimpinella saxifraga – Burnet-saxifrage (C. & N) Plantago major – Greater plantain Meadow brown Potentilla anserina – Silverweed Speckled wood Potentilla reptans – Creeping cinquefoil Ranunculus acris – Meadow buttercup Rosa canina – Dog rose (seedlings) Rubus fruticosus agg – Bramble species Senecio jacobaea – Common ragwort Stachys sylvatica – Hedge woundwort Taraxacum spp - Dandelion species Torilis japonica – Upright hedge-parsley Legend
Site Boundary ® Qualifying Section Potential Extension
Section No Longer Qualifies
? Nettleton Scarp Verges
Email: [email protected]
Nettleton Scarp Verges
West Lindsay District Council SNCI Review
DW 25/02/08
E011753 SITE NAME Grid Reference Thornton le Moor South Verge T F 0 6 1 9 6 3
SITE sub-division Date West Lindsey 0 2 0 8 0 7
RECORDER(S) Time on site Richard Penson hrs 30 mins
HABITATS (MAIN/ADDITIONAL) CONSTRAINTS Woodland Running water Early/late survey Scrub – scattered Spring/flush Short visit Scrub – dense Standing water (ditch) A Weather Hedgerow – spp rich Marsh/fen Terrain Hedgerow – spp poor Reedbed Vegetation Grassland – neutral M Saltmarsh Grassland – calcareous Mudflat Grassland – damp Sand dune Grassland – acid Saline lagoon Heathland Ruderal Acid peatland
Site Description
This site comprises the south verge, approximately 4m in width with an adjacent species-poor hedgerow and wet ditch (large sections of which were dry at the time of the survey) ADDITIONAL FEATURES Veteran trees Anthills Areas of frequent/prolonged flooding Pollarded trees Bare ground Seasonally wet/damp * Standing/fallen wood Rock outcrops Earthworks Sap runs/holes Steep slopes Ridge and furrow Tussocky vegetation South facing slopes Appropriate management * Abundant nectar sources Invasive spp * Inappropriate management Varied sward height Access Education potential
ASSESSMENT
This site still maintains a reasonably diverse flora, especially given its short length but is at risk of being overgrown with ruderal species. Agrimony is still frequent although there were only a few plants remaining of burnet-saxifrage. The majority of the more interesting herb species remaining were generally those tall species able to compete with the grasses. There were very few low- growing species of interest.
Small sections of this verge had been superficially damaged by vehicles.
This section of verge meets the LWS criteria for NG1: Semi-natural Neutral Grassland as it exceeds the size threshold for a linear habitat and has a species index score of 8 from the list of species in Table 2. SPECIES LIST
Grasses and sedges
Arrhenatherum elatius – False oat-grass Brachypodium pinnatum – Tor-grass Bromopsis erecta – Upright brome Carex hirta – Hairy sedge Dactylis glomerata – Cock’s-foot Deschampsia caespitosa – Tufted hair-grass Poa trivialis – Rough meadow-grass
Forbs
Agrimonia eupatorium – Agrimony Angelica sylvestris – Angelica Anthriscus sylvestris – Cow parsley Centaurea nigra – Common knapweed Cirsium arvense – Creeping thistle Conopodium majus – Pignut Epilobium hirsutum – Great-hairy willowherb Equisetum arvense – Field horsetail Filipendula ulmaria – Meadowsweet Galium verum – Lady’s bedstraw Geranium dissectum – Cut-leaved crane’s-bill Geranium robertianum – Herb Robert Geum urbanum – Wood avens Heracleum sphondylium – Hogweed Hypochoeris radicata – Common cat’s-ear Lathyrus pratensis – Meadow vetchling Pimpinella saxifraga – Burnet-saxifrage Plantago lanceolata – Ribwort plantain Ranunculus acris – Meadow buttercup Ranunculus repens – Creeping buttercup Rumex conglomeratus – Clustered dock Rumex obtusifolius – Broad-leaved dock Stachys sylvatica – Hedge woundwort Taraxacum spp. – Dandelion species Urtica dioica – Stinging nettle Vicia cracca – Tufted vetch
Hedgerow
Corylus avellana – Hazel Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn Fraxinus excelsior – Ash Ligustrum vulgare – Wild privet Prunus spinosa – Blackthorn Symphoricarpos albus – Snowberry Ulmus glabra – Wych elm SITE NAME Grid Reference Thornton le Moor North Verge T F 0 6 1 9 6 4
SITE sub-division Date West Lindsey 0 2 0 8 0 7
RECORDER(S) Time on site Richard Penson hrs 30 mins
HABITATS (MAIN/ADDITIONAL) CONSTRAINTS Woodland Running water Early/late survey Scrub – scattered Spring/flush Short visit Scrub – dense Standing water (ditch) A Weather Hedgerow – spp rich Marsh/fen Terrain Hedgerow – spp poor A Reedbed Vegetation Grassland – neutral M Saltmarsh Grassland – calcareous Mudflat Grassland – damp Sand dune Grassland – acid Saline lagoon Heathland Ruderal A Acid peatland
Site Description
This site comprises a short section of semi-natural neutral grassland road verge on the north side of Cater Lane, approximately 4m in width. There is an adjacent species-poor hedgerow with wet ditch. ADDITIONAL FEATURES Veteran trees Anthills Areas of frequent/prolonged flooding Pollarded trees Bare ground Seasonally wet/damp Standing/fallen wood Rock outcrops Earthworks Sap runs/holes Steep slopes Ridge and furrow Tussocky vegetation South facing slopes Appropriate management Abundant nectar sources Invasive spp * Inappropriate management * Varied sward height Access Education potential
ASSESSMENT
This section of verge is rapidly becoming invaded by coarse grasses and ruderal species with some suckering blackthorn from the adjacent hedgerow.
This section of verge no longer meets the LWS criteria as only three species from the semi- natural neutral grassland list were identified during the survey. This is almost certainly due to encroachment by coarse grasses and ruderal species. This verge could conceivably recover in time given sympathetic management. SPECIES LIST
Grasses Birds
Agrostis stolonifera – Creeping bent Goldfinch Arrhenatherum elatius – False oat-grass Yellowhammer Dactylis glomerata – Cock’s-foot Festuca rubra – Red fescue Butterflies Holcus lanatus – Yorkshire-fog Lolium perenne – Perennial rye-grass Gatekeeper Phleum bertolonii – Smaller cat’s-tail Meadow Brown Phleum pratense – Timothy Speckled Wood Poa trivialis – Rough meadow-grass
Forbs
Agrimonia eupatorium – Agrimony Anthriscus sylvestris – Cow parsley Centaurea nigra – Common knapweed Cirsium arvense – creeping thistle Convolvulus arvensis – Field bindweed Filipendula ulmaria – Meadowsweet Heracleum sphondylium – Hogweed Lathyrus pratensis – Meadow vetchling Plantago major – Greater plantain Polygonum aviculare – Knotgrass Polygonum maculosa – Redshank Potentilla anserina – Silverweed Potentilla reptans – Creeping cinquefoil Prunus spinosa – Blackthorn (seedlings) Ranunculus acris – Meadow buttercup Ranunculus repens – Creeping buttercup Rumex crispus – Curled dock Rumex obtusifolius – Broad-leaved dock Sonchus arvensis – Prickly sow-thistle Trifolium repens – White clover Tripleurospermum inodorum – Scentless mayweed Urtica dioica – Stinging nettle Vicia cracca – Tufted vetch Vicia faba – Field bean (crop volunteer)
Hedgerow
Acer campestre – Field maple Crataegus monogyna – Hawthorn Fraxinus excelsior – Ash Malus sylvestris – Crab apple Prunus spinosa – Blackthorn Rosa canina – Dog rose Ulmus glabra - Wych elm Legend
Site Boundary ® Qualifying Section Potential Extension
Section No Longer Qualifies
Thornton le Moor Verges
?
Email: [email protected]
Thornton le Moor Verges
West Lindsay District Council SNCI Review
DW 25/02/08
E011753 SITE NAME: Grid Reference ROXTON WOOD (NORTH VERGE) T A 1 6 5 1 1 4
SITE sub-division Date 0 2 0 8 0 7
RECORDER(S) Time on site Richard Penson 1 hrs 45 mins
HABITATS (MAIN/ADDITIONAL) CONSTRAINTS Woodland A Running water Early/late survey Scrub – scattered Spring/flush Short visit Scrub – dense Standing water Weather Hedgerow – spp rich Marsh/fen Terrain Hedgerow – spp poor Reedbed Vegetation Grassland – neutral M Saltmarsh S. verge mown Grassland – calcareous M Mudflat Grassland – damp Sand dune Grassland – acid Saline lagoon Heathland Ruderal Acid peatland
Site Description This site comprises a narrow verge along the north side of the minor road, directly adjacent to Roxton Wood. The section of this north verge to the west of the wood had been mown prior to the survey and therefore could not be surveyed. The cuttings in the mown areas had been left in situ at least on the day of the survey.
The section of verge surveyed contained several forb species associated with less improved swards and also included some wetland species that were locally present where there was a ditch (this was dry at the time of the survey). ADDITIONAL FEATURES Veteran trees Anthills Areas of frequent/prolonged flooding Pollarded trees Bare ground Seasonally wet/damp Standing/fallen wood Rock outcrops Earthworks Sap runs/holes Steep slopes Ridge and furrow Tussocky vegetation South facing slopes Appropriate management Abundant nectar sources Invasive spp Inappropriate management * Varied sward height Access Education potential
ASSESSMENT This section of verge meets the LWS criteria of Mos1 as it forms a mosaic of both calcareous and neutral grassland. Each habitat has an index score not less than three points below the qualifying threshold for the respective grassland types. SPECIES LIST
Grasses, Sedges and Rushes
Agrostis stolonifera – Creeping bent Arrhenatherum elatius – False oat-grass Brachypodium pinnatum – Tor-grass (C.) Bromopsis erecta – Upright brome (C.) Carex otrubae – False fox-sedge Dactylis glomerata – Cock’s-foot Festuca rubra – Red fescue Holcus lanatus – Yorkshire-fog Juncus conglomeratus – Compact rush Juncus inflexus – Hard rush Lolium perenne – Perennial rye-grass Phleum pratense – Timothy Poa annua – Annual meadow-grass Poa trivialis – Rough meadow-grass
Forbs
Agrimonia eupatorium – Agrimony Torilis japonica – Upright hedge-parsley Angelica sylvestris – Angelica (N) Trifolium pratense – Red clover Anthriscus sylvestris – Cow parsley Trifolium repens – white clover Bellis perennis – Common daisy Urtica dioica – Stinging nettle Centaurea nigra – Black knapweed (C. & N) Vicia cracca – Tufted vetch Cerastium fontanum – Common mouse-ear Vicia tetrasperma – Hairy tare Cirsium arvense – Creeping thistle Cirsium vulgare – Spear thistle Butterflies Cruciata laevipes – Crosswort (C.) Epilobium hirsutum – Great-hairy willowherb Green-veined white Filipendula ulmaria – Meadowsweet (N) Comma Galium aparine – Cleavers Wall brown Geranium robertianum – Herb-Robert Ringlet Heracleum sphondylium – Hogweed Meadow brown Hypochoeris radicata – Common cat’s-ear (N) Knautia arvensis – Field scabious (C.) Lapsana communis – Nipplewort Lathyrus pratensis – Meadow vetchling (N) Pimpinella saxifraga – Burnet-saxifrage (C. & N) Plantago lanceolata – Ribwort plantain Potentilla anserina – Silverweed Potentilla reptans – creeping cinquefoil Ranunculus acris – Meadow buttercup Rubus fruticosus agg – Bramble species Rumex obtusifolius – Broad-leaved dock Stachys officinalis – Betony (N) Stachys sylvatica – Hedge woundwort
Legend
Site Boundary ® Qualifying Section Potential Extension
Section No Longer Qualifies
Roxton Wood
?
Email: [email protected]
Roxton Wood Verges
West Lindsay District Council SNCI Review
Roxton Wood Verges DW 25/02/08
E011753 SITE NAME: Grid Reference Warren Wood S K 8 2 6 8 8 0 SITE sub-division Date West Lindsey 1 7 0 5 0 7 RECORDER(S) Time on site P Benyon & R Wardle 01hrs mins
HABITATS (MAIN/ADDITIONAL) CONSTRAINTS Woodland + Running water Early/late survey Scrub – scattered + Spring/flush Short visit Scrub – dense Standing water + Weather Hedgerow – spp rich Marsh/fen Terrain Hedgerow – spp poor Reedbed Vegetation Grassland – neutral Saltmarsh Grassland – calcareous Mudflat Grassland – damp Sand dune Grassland – acid + Saline lagoon Heathland Ruderal Acid peatland
SITE DESCRIPTION
Site comprises Warren Wood and Brickyard Plantation immediately to the north. The citation sheets from 1983 includes a finger of woodland parallel to the railway north west of the main woodland and also an area running east from the northern end of this strip. The SNCI plan provided does not include these two small sections.
Large plantation woodland of pine and spruce with some European larch and a predominantly impoverished understorey. The ground flora is dominated by bracken with large stands of male fern in places, and small patches of wood sage and bluebell.
There is a steep cutting alongside the railway with broadleaf species. At the top of the slope there are a number of beech trees varying between large, mature specimens and smaller young maiden trees but there are also mature oak trees. Along here there is a fenced dense thicket of silver birch and north of the house and garden there is an area of beech trees over largely bare ground.
There is a spur of the site (on original citation plan but not digital plan) that runs alongside the railway and then includes a hollow with steep sides running east - west. The slope above the railway has dense elder and hawthorn with a number of large mature oak trees, the ground flora being dominated by stinging nettle. The hollow has a number of very large beech trees over bare ground with considerable disturbance by children. At the western end of the hollow there are a small number of mature oak trees and here there is also bluebells.
A small pond in the wood is densely shaded and whilst common water starwort is present, this pond offers little in the way of aquatic habitat. It is likely however to provide water for fauna within the wood and may also be habitat for specialist invertebrates.
A number of the rides have a sparse ephemeral/droughty grassland flora including sheep’s sorrel and heath bedstraw. ADDITIONAL FEATURES Veteran trees + Anthills Areas of frequent/prolonged flooding Pollarded trees Bare ground + Seasonally wet/damp Standing/fallen wood Rock outcrops Earthworks Sap runs/holes Steep slopes Ridge and furrow Tussocky vegetation South facing slopes Appropriate management Abundant nectar sources Invasive spp Inappropriate management Varied sward height Access Education potential
Pines over bracken Woodland along Railway cutting
Beech trees along top of slope ASSESSMENT Ancient Semi-natural Woodland Register: A narrow strip of Warren Wood alongside the railway is mapped as ancient and semi-natural with the rest of the wood mapped as ancient re-planted. From the plan this could be the steep cutting shown in the photograph. Brickyard Plantation, which forms part of the SNCI, is not designated under any of the categories (see attached), neither is either of the two small spurs (outside SNCI) to the north west.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Sites Guidelines: The narrow strip alongside the railway qualifies under WD1. Rest of Warren Wood and Brickyard Plantation may qualify under Mos2.
The narrow strip would appear to qualify under WD1: semi-natural woodland listed in Lincolnshire ancient woodland inventory or Humberside ancient woodland inventory. However, the only real evidence found that this area is ancient semi-natural was the presence of a number of large oak trees.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Sites Guidelines Table 1: Woodland Plants. Site has a score of 1 and possibly 2 if scaly male fern is present amongst patches of male fern. A previous list compiled in 1983 only recorded 4 qualifying species.
The rest of Warren Wood is shown as ancient re-planted and WD2 criteria could apply: Woodland with characteristics of semi-natural ancient woodland that does not appear in an ancient woodland inventory with a minimum species index score of 10. However the woodland plants score did not reach the minimum required 10 species.
Similarly, Warren Wood and Brickyard plantation do not appear to qualify under WD3: Woodland not covered by other criteria with a minimum species index score of 10, as neither reached the minimum 10 species of woodland plants as listed in Table 1 of the Guidelines.
The narrow strip identified as ancient semi-natural woodland meets the criteria for retention of Local Wildlife Site (LWS) status.
The rest of the area does not appear to meet WD2 and WD3 criteria for retention of Local Wildlife Site (LWS) status.
It is possible that the rest of area could qualify under Mos2: area of at least 0.1ha that add to the wildlife value of adjacent land qualifying for LWS designation on habitat grounds. SPECIES LIST
Common Name Binomial Name Trees & Shrubs Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Scot's pine Pinus sylvestris Beech Fagus sylvatica Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur Silver Birch Betula pendula Elder Sambucus nigra
Forbs Male fern Dryopteris felix-mas Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta Herb Robert Geranium robertianum Rose bay willowherb Chamerion angustifolium Wood sage Teucrium scorodonia Stinging nettle Urtica dioica Sheep's sorrel Rumex acetosella Water starwort Callitriche sp. Heath bedstraw Galium saxatile Legend
Site Boundary ® Qualifying Section Potential Extension
Section No Longer Qualifies
Warren Wood
?
Email: [email protected]
Warren Wood
West Lindsay District Council SNCI Review
DW 25/02/08
E011753