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COUNTY: CAMBRIDGESHIRE SITE NAME: CALDECOTE MEADOWS
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Local Planning Authorities: South Cambridgeshire District Council
National Grid Reference: TL 347577
Ordnance Survey Sheet 1:50,000: 154 1:10,000: TL 35 NW
Date Notified (Under 1949 Act): Date of Last Revision:
Date Notified (Under 1981 Act): 1985 Date of Last Revision:
Area: 9.2 ha 22.7 ac
Other information: This is a new addition to the Cambridgeshire Schedule.
Description and Reasons for Notification
Caldecote Meadows is an area of herb-rich grassland of a calcareous loam type, holding plant communities which are of nationally restricted distribution. Meadows of this type were once widespread throughout Cambridgeshire but are now scarce in the county.
The grassland holds a range of plant species typical to the calcareous loam community including salad burnet Sanguisorba minor, quaking-grass Briza media, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris and cowslip Primula veris. This variety of plants has been retained as a result of traditional management by grazing and hay cutting.
Hedgerows, trees and a stream provide areas of additional wildlife value on the site. COUNTY: CAMBRIDGESHIRE SITE NAME: ELSWORTH WOOD
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Local Planning Authorities: South Cambridgeshire District Council
National Grid Reference: TL 313617
Ordnance Survey Sheet 1:50,000: 153 1:10,000: TL 36 SW
Date Notified (Under 1949 Act): Date of Last Revision:
Date Notified (Under 1981 Act): 1986 Date of Last Revision:
Area: 7.2 ha 17.8 ac
Other information: This is a new addition to the Cambridgeshire Schedule. The wood is a reserve of the Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Naturalists’ Trust.
Description and Reasons for Notification
Elsworth Wood is located approximately 13 kilometres west of Cambridge. It is the surviving fragment of a curious ring-shaped wood unusually situated on a ridge between two valleys. This wood has probably existed since the late 13th Century. Three types of woodland are represented, all of which are nationally uncommon. It is the best example in Cambridgeshire of a wood whose canopy is dominated by field maple Acer campestre. This type of woodland appears not to be known on the continent and therefore has international significance. In addition there is a good population of oxlip Primula elatior which is restricted to ancient woodlands in parts of East Anglia and the East Midlands. The wood is also known to be of importance for its invertebrate fauna and a number of nationally uncommon beetles have been recorded.
The canopy of Elsworth Wood is mostly dominated by field maple which is present as coppice-with- standards. Some oak Quercus robur standards are present in the southern part of the wood but ash Fraxinus excelsior is largely absent, only occurring as young trees in the extreme north of the wood. A small area of invasive elm Ulmus sp. is present and although this has been affected by Dutch Elm Disease, young suckers are again springing up. In addition there is an area of coppiced wych elm Ulmus glabra, of a type widely scattered in Suffolk and Essex but rare in Cambridgeshire. In the past the woodland has been managed as a coppice-with-standards and this practice still continues.
The shrub layer is varied, with coppiced hazel Corylus avellana and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna being the most common species. Other species which also occur include elder Sambucus nigra, crab apple Malus sylvestris and dogwood Cornus sanguinea.
The ground flora is typical of a wood on calcareous boulder clay, being largely dominated by dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta. More notable species which occur include oxlip Primula elatior, pignut Conopodium majus, figwort Scrophularia nodosa, nettle- leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium, stinking iris Iris foetidissima and broad-leaved helleborine Epipactis helleborine.
Studies carried out on the invertebrate fauna have revealed the presence of a number of nationally uncommon species, most notable of which to date is the rove beetle Stichoglossa semirufa.
A pond and stream provide additional habitats which are of value to wildlife generally. COUNTY: CAMBRIDGESHIRE SITE NAME: HARDWICK WOOD
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Local Planning Authorities: South Cambridgeshire District Council
National Grid Reference: TL 354575
Ordnance Survey Sheet 1:50,000: 154 1:10,000: TL 35 NE
Date Notified (Under 1949 Act): 1954 Date of Last Revision: 1971
Date Notified (Under 1981 Act): 1984 Date of Last Revision:
Area: 16.9 ha 41.7 ac
Other information: Hardwick Wood is a nature reserve of the Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Naturalists’ Trust.
Description and Reasons for Notification
The ancient core of the site is ash-field maple woodland containing both oxlip Primula elatior and primrose Primula vulgaris, a woodland type which is nationally restricted in distribution to small parts of Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex where the oxlip and primrose woods overlap in their range.
The oldest parts of the wood have a canopy of pedunculate oak Quercus robur with an understorey of hazel Corylus avellana, hawthorn Crataegus spp. and scattered field maple Acer campestre. The more recent woodland contains much ash Fraxinus excelsior and some wych elm Ulmus glabra.
The ground flora is largely dominated by dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and contains interesting plants such as early-purple orchid Orchis mascula and yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon. Rides in the wood provide additional habitat diversity.
The adjacent bridleway provides a narrow ‘buffer’ to the wood and contains a population of a nationally restricted plant.
The wood is bounded by agricultural ditches. COUNTY: CAMBRIDGESHIRE SITE NAME: MADINGLEY WOOD
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Local Planning Authorities: South Cambridgeshire District Council
National Grid Reference: TL 401596
Ordnance Survey Sheet 1:50,000: 154 1:10,000: TL 45 NW, TL 35 NE
Date Notified (Under 1949 Act): 1959 Date of Last Revision: 1971
Date Notified (Under 1981 Act): 1986 Date of Last Revision:
Area: 15.2 ha 37.5 ac
Other information: This woodland has been the location of much woodland research and educational use by the University of Cambridge.
Description and Reasons for Notification
Madingley Wood is an example of the ash-maple woodland type characteristic of the chalky Boulder Clay of eastern England.
The western sector of the wood is of ancient origin whilst the eastern half is of relatively recent origin thus providing valuable opportunities for study into colonisation processes and historical ecology generally.
The older primary woodland holds standards of pedunculate oak Quercus robur with ash Fraxinus excelsior and field maple Acer campestre being common. Old hazel Coryllus avellana coppice, and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna dominate the shrub layer.
The secondary woodland holds a mixture of elm Ulmus sp. and ash with a shrub layer of elm suckers and blackthorn Prunus spinosa.
The ground flora is typically of dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis-bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta type. The woodland has also been noted for its moss flora.
The site is of particular educational and research value in view of its long association with the University of Cambridge. COUNTY: CAMBRIDGESHIRE SITE: PAPWORTH WOOD
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Local Planning Authorities: South Cambridgeshire District Council
National Grid Reference: TL 291630
Ordnance Survey Sheet 1:50,000: 153 1:10,000: TL 26 SE
Date Notified (Under 1949 Act): 1971 Date of Last Revision:
Date Notified (Under 1981 Act): 1984 Date of Last Revision:
Area: 8.9 ha 22.0 ac
Other information: Papworth Wood is a nature reserve of the Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Naturalists’ Trust. Two small areas of the SSSI as notified in 1971 have been deleted at revision.
Description and Reasons for Notification
Papworth Wood is known to be one of the oldest secondary woods in Cambridgeshire. Although originally a coppice-with-standards woodland of ash Fraxinus excelsior, field maple Acer campestre and hazel Corylus avellana the site is now dominated by invasive small-leaved elm Ulmus minor and represents a woodland type scarce in the British Isles.
The majority of the wood is dominated by clones of small-leaved elm with a few contemporary stands of pedunculate oak Quercus robur, field maple and ash. A discontinuous shrub layer is present comprising suckering elm, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and elder Sambucus nigra with other shrub species scattered throughout.
The ground flora varies within the wood. Parts are dominated by bramble Rubus agg., rough meadow- grass Poa trivialis, stinging nettle Urtica dioica and ground ivy Glechoma hederacea. Many other species are present including bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa and primrose Primula vulgaris.
Paths, clearings and rides in the wood and a boundary stream provide additional habitats of general wildlife value.
The site has been the subject of much research by woodland ecologists and soil scientists and, as a very old secondary woodland, Papworth Wood is of particular importance for the study of factors determining plant colonisation in woodlands. COUNTY: CAMBRIDGESHIRE SITE NAME: ST NEOTS COMMON
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Local Planning Authorities: Huntingdonshire District Council
National Grid Reference: TL 183613
Ordnance Survey Sheet 1:50,000: 153 1:10,000: TL 16 SE
Date Notified (Under 1949 Act): 1954 Date of Last Revision: 1971
Date Notified (Under 1981 Act): 1983 Date of Last Revision:
Area: 32.5 ha 80 ac
Other information: A boundary modification has been made at this revision.
Description and Reasons for Notification
This riverside common holds alluvial grassland and associated ponds, ditches and willow carr which together provide an area of diverse wildlife habitat supporting a variety of species.
The grassland, the main habitat present, is geographically a southern group and in a county context it is one of the very few alluvial grasslands which remains under the traditional management, in this instance grazing, which has maintained a species-rich sward.
The wetter grassland type is characterised by the presence of grasses such as marsh foxtail Alopecurus geniculatus and floating sweet grass Glyceria fluitans, together with a variety of sedges. A variety of herbs characteristic of such wet pasture are present. These include the common water dropwort Oenanthe fistulosa, marsh orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa and the marsh arrow grass Triglochin palustris.
On drier areas a calcareous influence is apparent with the presence of quaking grass Briza media and the meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulata.
The habitat variety of the site is further enhanced by the presence of ponds and ditches which support a good aquatic flora and fauna. The ditch flora includes water plantain Alisma plantago- aquatica and brookweed Samolus valerandi. There are also thriving colonies of toads and frogs, the latter being rare in the county.
The willow holt within the site holds nine species of willow including Salix purpurea and S. triandra var. amygalina and the area supports the large bitter cress Cardamine amara and the butterbur Petasites hybridus.
Although not yet studied in great detail the invertebrate fauna of such diverse areas is characteristically equally diverse.
The following SSSI’s are located near the A428 Corridor:
Caldecote Meadow Elsworth Wood Hardwick Wood Madingley Wood Papworth Wood St Neot’s Common
Madingley Wood
Hardwick Wood
Caldecote Meadow
Elsworth Wood
Papworth Wood
St Neot’s Common
Screenshot taken from English Heritage website