Wyre Forest Facilitation Group WILDLIFE AUDIT 2019 LITTLE LAKES GOLF COURSE

Name of property: Little Lakes Golf Course Location: 3kms SW of Bewdley Landowners: Little Lakes Leisure Address: Little Lakes Golf Club, Lye Head, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 2UZ Contact: Nick Fernihough [email protected] 01299 266400 Land designation: None Countryside Stewardship scheme: None Acreage 250 acres in total, but not all surveyed Recorder: Rosemary Winnall, with help from Janet and Clive Prince, and Mike Averill Dates of visits: 4th, 6th and 17th June 2019

AERIAL VIEW of golf course showing sites surveyed

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Geology The eastern half of the audit area is made up of rocks from the Devonian St Maughans formation, sedimentary clays and sandstones with bands of conglomerate. The western half is made up of younger rocks from the Carboniferous Etruria formation with sandstones, mudstones and conglomerates.

Drainage The Gladder Brook runs across the site from NW to SE in a wooded Dingle. There is a small man-made spring-fed pond on one of the greens.

Links to wider The steeply sloping wooded Gladder Brook valley acts as an important landscape wildlife corridor linking the ancient semi-natural woodlands Arley Wood (SSSI) Ribbesford Wood and Rock Coppice (SSSI) to the main Wyre Forest (2kms to the north), and to the River Severn valley (3km to the east).

Archaeology None known.

Current use and The golf course is mowed on a regular basis and some of the grass is management collected. The rough grassland/scrub is left uncut, and there is some rabbit grazing. There is a reed bed system in place for the clubhouse and chalets which drains down into Gladder Brook. The whole area is managed with nature conservation in mind.

Site 1 This bank slopes steeply down to the NW to one of the greens. The steepest section near the bottom of the rough has the largest diversity of plants thanks to rabbit grazing which has restricted the growth of some of the coarser grasses. Dyer’s Greenweed, Betony, Bird’s-foot- trefoil and Meadow Cranesbill are present (C. Vincent).

Rough (R) Several other areas of rough grassland/scrub were surveyed. Although the majority of these had many course grasses, small parts showed more plant diversity. The long grass had good populations of grass pyralid , mirid bugs, spiders, grasshoppers and crickets – the latter still immature. The flowering brambles and thistles in the scrub provide good nectaring for .

Dingle (D) The Dingle was checked at four spots (D on the aerial view) although access was not easy with the steep slopes. There was very little water in the brook and not many aquatic invertebrates recorded. Flatworms, leeches, freshwater shrimps and some caddis larvae were found. The woodland was rich in Bluebells, Ramsons, Wood Anemones, Dog’s Mercury, Yellow Archangel in the shaded parts, indicating it is old woodland. In places there is invasive Himalayan Balsam.

Pond This is an interesting pond with an open sunny aspect and good marginal vegetation. It was rich in water beetles, water boatmen, Backswimmers, dragonfly and mayfly larvae, and small snails. Moorhen was present with young, and Azure Damselflies were egg-laying amongst the Water Plantain.

Habitats and features Site 1 had the best plant diversity on the steeper ground. The pond was of note rich in aquatic invertebrates. The rough grassland/scrub ecotomes were good for insects.

Species of note The Worm Slug (first recorded in Britain in 1972) was found under some logs near the Clubhouse. We have very few records of Pisids – very small bivalve freshwater molluscs, and these will have to be identified by an expert. It was good to see the Red-girdled Mining Bee nectaring on Germander Speedwell as it often does.

Concerns There is some Himalayan Balsam along the more open parts of the Dingle, but it is restricted by scrub growth and mowing.

Further recording The weather was uncharacteristically cold, wet and cloudy during the weeks of the survey. A summer visit on a hot sunny day would provide many more records across the site.

HABITATS Present Native woodland/copse Yes Conifer woodland Some conifers Permanent meadow/pasture Yes Unimproved meadow Traditional or commercial orchard Purple moor grass/ rush pasture Stream Yes Pond Yes Wetland/marsh/flush Arable fallow field margins High hedges Yes Heathland Scrub Yes Rough field margins Yes

GOOD HABITAT FEATURES Standing deadwood Yes Lying deadwood Wide field margins on arable fields Flower-rich meadow High hedges Yes Beetle bank (raised open bank) Veteran tree Water features (Stream, pond, lake) Yes Woody debris (trunks and branches left in Yes stream)

CONCERNS Scrub invading meadow Poached ground, overgrazing Undergrazed meadow Invasive Bracken Too many docks or thistles Invasive Himalayan Balsam Yes, but under control Another invasive plant

Site 1, plant-rich steep section with a north westerly aspect, 6 June 2019

One of the Roughs – NW corner, 6 June 2019 Gladder Brook in the Dingle, 6 June 2019

Crab Spider Misumena vatia female with Honey Bee prey, 6 June 2019 prey

The Pond, 6 June 2019

Timothy Tortrix caterpillar, 6 June 2019 Caddis pupal cases Agapetes fuscipes, 6 June 2019

Brown China-mark just emerged, 17 June 2019 Emperor Dragonfly exuvia, 6 June 2019

Biological Records

Taxon Latin name English name Area 1 ROUGH DINGLE POND

Acari Eriophyes laevis mite galls in Alder leaves • Acari Eriophyes leiosoma mite gall on lime leaves • Aranaea Araniella sp. a cucumber spider • Aranaea Cheiracanthium erraticum a spider • Aranaea Mangora acalypha a spider • Aranaea Meta segmentata a spider • Aranaea Metellina mengei a spider • Aranaea Misumena vatia a crab spider • Aranaea Pardosa sp. a Wolf Spider • Aves Turdus merula Blackbird • • Aves Sylvia atricapilla Blackcap • Aves Pyrrhula pyrrhula Bullfinch • Aves Buteo buteo Buzzard • Aves Fringilla coelebs Chaffinch • • Aves Phylloscopus collybita Chiffchaff • • Aves Prunella modularis Dunnock • • Aves Carduelis carduelis Goldfinch • Aves Passer domesticus House Sparrow • Aves Pica pica Magpie • • Aves Turdus viscivorus Mistle Thrush • Aves Gallinula chloropus Moorhen and young • Aves Sitta europaea Nuthatch • Aves Phasianus colchicus Pheasant • Aves Erithacus rubecula Robin • Aves Turdus philomelos Song Thrush • • Aves Columba palumbus Woodpigeon • Aves Troglodytes troglodytes Wren • Bryophyta Plagiomnium undulatum Hart's-tongue Thyme-moss • Bryophyta Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus Springy Turf-moss • Coleoptera Cantharis livida a soldier beetle • Coleoptera Cantharis flavilabris a soldier beetle • Coleoptera Cantharis nigricans a soldier beetle • Coleoptera Grammoptera ruficornis a longhorn beetle • Coleoptera Malachius bipustulatus A Malachite Beetle • Coleoptera Oedemera lurida A Flower Beetle • Coleoptera Oedemera nobilis A Flower Beetle • • Coleoptera Subcoccinella 24-punctata 24 spot Ladybirds • Crustacea Gammerus sp. freshwater shrimp • • Diplopoda Tachypodoiulus niger White-legged Snake Millipede • Diptera Chrysogaster solstitialis a hoverfly • Diptera Didymomyia tiliacea fly gall in lime leaves • Diptera Dioctria rufipes a Robberfly • Diptera Episyrphus balteatus a hoverfly • fly galls in Germander Diptera Japiella veronicae Speedwell • Diptera Meredon equestris a hoverfly • Diptera Phytomza ilicis fly galls in holly leaves • Diptera Syrphus ribesii a hoverfly • Diptera Tabanus bromius a horsefly • Diptera Poecilobothrus nobilitatus a dolichopid fly • Flora Tilia sp. a Lime x • Flora Salix sp. a willow x x • Flora Alnus glutinosa Alder x • x • • x • Flora Fraxinus excelsior Ash x • x • x • x • Flora Potentilla sterilis Barren Strawberry x • • Flora Stachys officinalis Betony x • Flora Tamus communis Black Bryony • • Flora Prunus spinosa Blackthorn x • Flora Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell x • Flora Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble x • x • x • Flora Sparganium erectum Branched Bur-reed • Flora Helminthotheca echioides Bristly Oxtongue • Flora Dryopteris dilatata Broad Buckler-fern • Flora Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock x • x • x Flora Potomogeton natans Broad-leaved Pondweed • Flora Ajuga reptans Bugle x • • Flora Hypochaeris radicata Cat's-ear • Flora Galium aparine Cleavers x • • • Flora Dactylis glomerata Cock’s-foot x • • Flora Lotus corniculatus Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil x • • Flora Viola riviniana Common Dog-violet x • Flora Scrophularia nodosa Common Figwort • Flora Crataegus monogyna Common Hawthorn • Flora Hedera helix Common Ivy • Flora Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed • Flora Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear • • Flora Urtica dioica Common Nettle x • x • • Flora Senecio jacobaea Common Ragwort • x • x • Flora Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel x • x x Flora Vicia sativa Common Vetch x • x Flora Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley x • • • Flora Primula veris Cowslip x • Flora Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup x • x • x • x Flora Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil • x Flora Holcus mollis Creeping Soft-grass • • • • Flora Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle x • x • • Flora Geranium dissectum Cut-leaved Cranesbill • x • Flora Bellis perennis Daisy • • Flora Taraxacum officinale agg. Dandelion x • • x Flora Rosa canina Dog-rose • • Flora Mercurialis perennis Dog’s Mercury x • Flora Cornus sanguinea Dogwood x • Flora Genista tinctoria Dyer's Greenweed x Flora Sambucus nigra Elder • x • Flora Circaea lutetiana Enchanter's Nightshade • Flora Arrhenatherum elatius False Oat-grass x • • Flora Festuca sp. Fescues x • • Flora Acer campestre Field Maple x • x • • Flora Luzula campestris Field Wood-rush x • Flora Germander Speedwell x • • x • Flora Carex glauca Glaucous Sedge • • Flora Epilobium hirsutum Great Willow-herb • Flora Lotus pedunculatus Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil • Flora Stellaria holostea Greater Stitchwort x • Flora Pentaglottis sempervirens Green Alkanet • Flora Senecio vulgaris Groundsel • • Flora Lycopus europaeus Gypsywort • Flora Vicia hirsuta Hairy Tare x • Flora Juncus inflexus Hard Rush x • Flora Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn x • x • x • Flora Corylus avellana Hazel x • x • Flora Heath Speedwell • Flora Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort • • Flora Geum urbanum Herb Bennet x • x • x Flora Geranium robertianum Herb-Robert • Flora Impatiens glandulifera Himalayan Balsam x • Flora Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed x • x • x • Flora Ilex aquifolium Holly • Flora Juncus articulatus Jointed Rush • Flora Athyrium filix-femina Lady-fern • Flora Cardamine pratensis Lady's-smock x Flora Stellaria graminea Lesser Stitchwort x • • Flora Trifolium dubium Lesser Trefoil • x • Flora Dryopteris filix-mas Male Fern x • • Flora Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle x • Flora Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup • x • x • Flora Geranium pratense Meadow Crane's-bill x Flora Lapsana communis Nipplewort • Chrysosplenium Opposite-leaved Golden- Flora oppositifolium saxifrage • Flora Carex demissa Pale Sedge • Flora Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak x • x • x • x Flora Carex pendula Pendulous Sedge • • Flora Hypericum perforatum Perforate St John's Wort • • Flora Conopodium majus Pignut • Flora Sonchus asper Prickly Sowthistle • Flora Allium ursinum Ramsons x • Flora Silene dioica Red Campion x • Flora Trifolium pratense Red Clover x • Flora Festuca rubra Red Fescue • • Flora Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb x Flora Chaerophyllum temulum Rough Chervil x • Flora Poa trivialis Rough Meadow-grass x • • • Flora Prunella vulgaris Self-heal x • • Flora Betula pendula Silver Birch x • x • Flora Juncus effusus Soft Rush • Flora Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal-grass • • • Flora Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore x Flora Veronica serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved Speedwell • Flora Mentha aquatica Water Mint x • Flora Deschampsia flexuosa Wavy Hair-grass • Flora Trifolium repens White Clover x • • x Flora Prunus avium Wild Cherry x Flora Anemone nemorosa Wood Anemone • Flora Veronica montana Wood Speedwell x • Flora Ulmus glabra Wych Elm • Flora Achillea millefolium Yarrow x Flora Lamiastrum galeobdolon Yellow Archangel • Flora Iris pseudacorus Yellow Iris x • Flora Lysimachia nemorum Yellow Pimpernel • Flora Taxus baccata Yew • Flora Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog x • x • Flora Trifolium medium Zig zag Clover • Fungi Daldinia concentrica Cramp Balls • Hemiptera Aelia acuminata Bishops Mitre • Hemiptera Capsus ater a mirid bug • Hemiptera Cercopis vulnerata Red and Black Froghopper • • Hemiptera Grypocoris stysi nymph • Hemiptera Heterogaster urticae Nettle Ground Bug • Hemiptera Leptoterna dolabrata Meadow Plant Bug nymphs • Hemiptera Lygocoris pabulinus Common Green Capsid • Hemiptera Nabis rugosus Common Damsel Bug • Hemiptera Notonecta sp. Back Swimmers - juveniles • Hemiptera Psyllopsis fraxini psyllid gall on ash leaves • Hemiptera Stenodema calcarata a mirid bug • Hemiptera Tachycixius pilosus a lacebug • Lesser Water Boatman Hemiptera juveniles • Hymenoptera Andrena labiata Red-girdled Mining Bee • • Hymenoptera Apis melifera Honey bee • • Hymenoptera Bombus hypnorum Tree Bee • Hymenoptera Bombus lapidarius a bumblebee • • Hymenoptera Bombus pascuorum a bumblebee • Hymenoptera Bombus pratorum Early Bumblebee • • Hymenoptera Bombus terrestris/lucorum a bumblebee • • • Hymenoptera Bombus vestalis a cuckoo bee • Hymenoptera Formica fusca an ant • Hymenoptera Lasius flavus Yellow Meadow Ant • Hymenoptera Lasius niger an ant • Hymenoptera Myrmica ruginodis an ant • Hymenoptera Tenthredo mesomela a sawfly • Hymenoptera Vespa crabro Hornet • Isopoda Oniscus asellus a woodlouse • Isopoda Porcellio scaber a woodlouse • Adela reaumurella a micromoth • • Lepidoptera Aphelia paleana Timothy Tortrix adult and larva • Lepidoptera fibulella micromoths • Lepidoptera Elophila nymphaata Brown China-mark • Lepidoptera Glyphipteryx fuscoviridella a micromoth • Lepidoptera Micropterix calthella a micromoth • Lepidoptera Ochlodes sylvanus Large Skipper • • Lepidoptera Tyria jacobaeae Cinnabar • Lepidoptera Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral • Lepidoptera Xanthorhoe montanata Silver Ground Carpet • • Lichen Evernia prunastri a lichen • Mammalia Meles meles Badger sett and latrines • Mammalia Sciurus carolinensis Grey Squirrel • Mammalia Talpa europaea Molehills • Mammalia Oryctolagus cuniculus Rabbit • Mecoptera Panorpa communis a scorpion fly • Mollusca Aegopinella nitidula a snail • Mollusca Arion subfuscus a slug • Mollusca Boettgerilla pallens Worm Slug • Mollusca Cepaea hortensis a snail • • Mollusca Discus rotundatus a snail • Mollusca Pisids (to ID) • Odonata Coenagrion puella Azure Damselfly adults • • Odonata Sympetrum striolatum Common Darter exuviae • Odonata Anax imperator Emperor Dragonfly exuviae • Orthoptera Metrioptera roeseli Roesel's Bush cricket nymph • Trichoptera Taiaenodes bicolor caddis larvae • Trichoptera Limnephilus sp. caddis larvae • Trichoptera Agapetus fuscipes caddis pupal cases • records of note invasive species R. Winnall 19 June 2019 Charlotte Vincent's records x