WILDLIFE IN COMMON Wildlife in Common Survey Form Site Name: Shotesham Common Parish: Shotesham Grid reference: TM245991 Area: 21.6ha District: South Norfolk Survey date: 2018 & 2019 Designations: Site of Special Scientific Interest Registered Common Number: CL 20 Habitat Description: Shotesham Common is registered common (CL20) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. A large linear common, almost a mile in length, it consists of species-rich grazing meadow, which follows the line of the spring-fed Beck. The marshy grassland is richest in the south, being influenced by the Beck and springs, it supports meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), angelica (Angelica sylvestris), fen bedstraw (Galium uliginosum), greater birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus), meadow vetchling, soft rush (Juncus effusus), hard rush (Juncus inflexus), blunt-flowered rush (Juncus subnodulosus), fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica), fool’s watercress (Apium nodiflorum) and lesser water parsnip (Berula erecta), water mint (Mentha aquatica) and water figwort (Scrophularia auriculata). Common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and heath spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) were also found on the site. The grassland become slightly less diverse towards the northern end of the common, where sedges and tall grasses are more frequent. The sloping boundaries of the common are generally less diverse being drier. The boundaries are a gappy hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) hedge, patches of low bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.) scrub, and some mature trees to the north, including oak (Quercus robur), poplar (Populus sp.) and coppiced hazel (Corylus avellana). There are a few scattered trees on the common, with alder (Alnus glutinosa), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and hawthorn. The 1909 Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists Society report on The Commons of Norfolk simply records the common as being ‘Pasture with Juncus’. The first Ordnance Survey maps from the late 19th century show the common as rough pasture, with many ditches, two fords, and a number of wells. By 1906, three springs are shown in the south of the common. The pond is shown as early as 1840 on the Tithe Map, and on one OS map is depicted as marsh. The Beck is clearly represented, then being the parish boundary between Shotesham All Saints and Shotesham St Mary. Trees are scattered along the boundaries of the common. Shotesham Common is a valley site in the catchment of the River Tas. An extensive area of unimproved grassland, with a good variety of grassland types. These range from permanently wet marshy grassland on the valley bottom, through wet neutral grassland, to drier grassland on the slopes. A stream runs through the site and there is a small area of basic flush on the valley side. The Natural England SSSI 1987 citation reports the scientific interest of the site as being “maintained by light grazing and a diverse well developed flora is present with several uncommon species”. It goes on “The areas of marshy grassland are dominated by blunt- flowered rush (Juncus subnodulosus), sharp-flowered rush (J. acutiflorus) and meadowsweet 1 WILDLIFE IN COMMON (Filipendula ulmaria) with frequent bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliate), marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), ragged robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) and southern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa). More uncommon species present include marsh lousewort (Pedicularis palustris), marsh helleborine (Epipactis palustris) and common cotton-grass (Eriophorum angustifolium)”. “Wet neutral grassland is present on less waterlogged soils. Grasses are dominant in the sward and the more frequent species are tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa), Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus) and creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera). Herb species are well represented and include cowslip (Primula veris), common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsia), common twayblade (Listera ovata) and adder’s tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum). “Small areas of dry, neutral grassland on hummocky ground are dominated by sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum) and Yorkshire fog with meadow saxifrage (Saxifraga granulate), Lady’s bedstraw (Galium verum) and common quaking grass (Briza media). The small flush has a bryophyte-dominated carpet with a short-sward vegetation that includes marsh arrow-grass (Triglochin palustris), quaking grass and cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis). The site also includes small areas of semi-improved and improved grassland”. (Information from https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org ) Site Images (Andy Musgrove) Pond - TM24499935 Ford - TM24319949 Beck 2 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Marshy Grassland Target Note Reference Map : 4 3 2 1 3 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Target Notes: 1. Wet, marshy grassland. Adjacent to the Beck, the area supports meadowsweet, water figwort, fool’s watercress, great willowherb, watermint, fleabane, creeping thistle, dock, false oat grass and nettle. This area contains the springs which feed the Beck. 2. Area of species-rich marshy grassland supporting angelica, common spotted orchid, southern marsh orchid, heath spotted orchid, greater birdsfoot trefoil, fen bedstraw, ragged robin, meadow vetchling, cuckooflower, meadow buttercup, fleabane, soft rush, hard rush and blunt-flowered rush. This area has smartly mown paths to allow access. It is cut and baled for hay in late summer. Drier areas of grassland in the south support neutral grassland plants such as Lady’s bedstraw, sweet vernal grass, germander speedwell, meadow saxifrage and Yorkshire fog. The attractive village pond is shown on the 1840 Tithe map of Shotesham, and is now kept as a village amenity. 3. The Beck is a small tributary of the River Tas. It flows north, along the whole length of the common, with a ford part way along giving access to houses in the west. Old maps show several springs in the southern area of the common. The Beck supports a good diversity of aquatic and marginal plants, including fool’s watercress, branched bur-reed, gypsywort, water forget-me-not, watermint, water starwort sp. and, in the north, reed sweet grass. Also celery-leaved buttercup, kingcup, lesser water parsnip and brooklime. 4. Coarser, neutral grassland. An area of somewhat rougher growth, with tall grasses and sedges dominating, also hard rush, soft rush, dock, meadow foxtail, nettle and horsetail. The eastern boundary bank has some old coppiced hazels, and an impressive old oak pollard. Other notable species: Barn owl (Tyto alba) Common frog (Rana temporaria) Water vole (Arvicola amphibius) – see image below taken by Mike Fenn Grass snake (Natrix natrix) 4 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Annotated site map 5 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Adjacent habitats/potential buffer zones & linkage to other sites: The site is surrounded by agricultural land, with village housing mostly to the east and south. Is the site in positive conservation management? Yes/no/partly/non-intervention. (Please give details if necessary). Shotesham Common has a dedicated and active conservation group who work hard at managing the Common through grazing and mowing. PLANT LIST Site Name: Shotesham Common, SSSI Date of survey: 26/5/18, 20/6/18, 23/7/18, 23/8/18, 1/9/18, 23/9/18, 26/3/19, 15/4/19, 13/5/19, 17/6/19,12/8/19 & 21/8/19. Surveyors: Sally Lelievre, Jane Ellis, Tina Anderson, Andy Musgrove Scientific Name Common Name Comments/Location Acer campestre Field maple Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore Achillea millefolium Yarrow Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony Alliaria petiolata Garlic mustard Alnus glutinosa Alder Alopecurus pratensis Meadow foxtail Angelica sylvestris Wild angelica Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet vernal grass Anthriscus sylvestris Cow parsley Apium nodiflorum Fool’s watercress Arabidopsis thaliana Thale Cress Arctium lappa Greater burdock Arrhenatherum elatius False oat grass Arum maculatum Lords and ladies Atriplex prostrata Spear-leaved Orache Barbarea vulgaris Wintercress Bellis perennis Daisy Berula erecta Lesser water parsnip Bromus hordeaceus Soft brome Bromus sterilis Barren brome Buddleja davidii Butterfly-bush Callitriche sp. Water starwort Caltha palustris Kingcup (marsh marigold) Calystegia sepium Hedge bindweed Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's-purse Cardamine amara Large bittercress Cardamine flexuosa Wavy bitter-cress Cardamine hirsuta Hairy bittercress Cardamine pratensis Ladies smock Carex hirta Hairy sedge Carex otrubae False fox-sedge Cerastium arvense Field mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum Common mouse-ear Chaerophyllum temulum Rough chervil 6 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Scientific Name Common Name Comments/Location Chamaenerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb Chenopodium album Fat Hen Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle Corylus avellana Hazel Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Crepis capillaris Smooth Hawksbeard Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dogstail Cyperus longus Galingale On edge of the pond (near pub) and a large patch on common to south-east of here also Dactylis glomerata Cock's-Foot Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata Early Marsh-Orchid Dactylorhiza maculata Heath Spotted Orchid Dactylhoriza praetermissa Southern Marsh Orchid Dipsacus fullonum Teasel Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb Epilobium parviflorum Hoary Willowherb Epilobium tetragonum Square-Stalked Willowherb Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail Eranthis hyemalis Winter Aconite Eupatorium cannabinum Hemp Agrimony Fagus sylvatica Beech Fallopia convolvulus Black Bindweed Ficaria verna Lesser Celandine Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet Fraxinus excelsior Ash Galium aparine Cleavers Galium uliginosum Fen Bedstraw