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DOG LICHEN FIELD (INDZ/ES01) Click here to see preliminary management plan for the site Click here to see species lists for this site
General InformationSK27209880 Ownership Corus
Engineering Steels Size 0.75 hectares
(514m perimeter) Designation(s) Green
Belt Access Free access via
route of Stocksbridge Steel Valley Project. Parking
also possible along a wide access drive to
electricity sub-station to the south west of
site. Classification B3 Importance Not significant
but does contain some interesting grassland
communities and moderately species-rich hedgerows
of recent origin. Date
Surveyed 13-03-00
1. 3.
Survey informationA large field
that contains a variety of grassland communities,
some coarse and others characteristic of acidic
soils. History The field as it
appears today is more or less as shown on the
Hunshelf Enclosure Award map of 1810. In recent
times adjacent areas, one which was once occupied
by housing has been planted up as woodland (early
1990s) and within the field itself a large portion
has been fenced off and planted up with a variety
of species such as cherry (Prunus padus),
oak, alder, hawthorn, ash etc. The field itself may
have been subject to some industrial activity as
there appears to be present some indication of
spoil spread on parts of the site. Topography The whole site
is on a south facing slope. Some evidence of
possible mine workings, in the form of a gentle
depression, are in the central area of the site
where soil acidity is probably high.
Recreation
and Use Appears to have
little apart from a desire line indicating a short
cut to Hunshelf Park (adjacent to site). Along the
northeastern boundary of the field runs part of the
Stocksbridge Steel Valley Walk. The survey recorded
the site free of litter and fly-tipping.
Present
Management None. Previous
surveys/studies The field was
surveyed as part of the Sheffield Local
Biodiversity Action Plan audit of grasslands by two
volunteers from Sheffield Wildlife Trust (Kurt
Goodman and Jim Flanagan) in 1998. 2. 6. 7.
Main Plant CommunitiesCommunity General
Description Characteristic
Species Community
A Rough
grassland Dactylis
glomerata, Arrhenatherium elatius, Trisetum
flavescens, Hieraceum pilosella Community
B Low herb and
grass (acidic) on disturbed/bare ground Polytrichum
juniperum, Ceratodon purpureus ssp purpureus,
Cladonia sp., Peltigera lactucifolia, Nardus
stricta, Deschampsia flexuosa, Agrostis capillaris,
Hypochaeris radicata, Hieraceum pilosella, Rumex
acetosella Community
C Tall
herb Rumex
obtusifolius, Dactlis glomerata, Cirsium sp.,
Arrhenatherium elatius Community
D Acid
grassland C;adonia sp.,
Agrostis capillaris, Dactylis glomerata, Carex sp.,
Hypochaeris radicata, Hieraceum pillosela, Plantago
lanceolata, Community
E Hedgerows Crataegus
monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Corylllus
avellana Community
F Planted tree
and shrub area Crataegus
monogyna, Coryllus avellana, Quercus sp., Viburnum
opulum, Prunus spinosa, Stellaria media, Dactylis
glomerata
4. 5. 8. 9.
Ecological InterestThe field is a south facing one and contains a range of grassland, tall and short herb communities as well as the recent addition of planted up hedgerows and a shrub area. There are significant areas of nutrient poor acid grassland here with species typical of this community present such as common bent (Agrostis capillaris), wavy-hair grass (Deschampsia flexuosa), mouse-ear hawkweed (Hieraceum pillosela) and sheep's sorrel (Rumex acetosella). On some of the more bare areas in the centre of the site are lichen/moss communities with cup lichens (Cladonia) most frequent and the moss Polytrichum juniperum. Early hair-grass (Aira praecox) also appears here. The dog lichen Peltigera lactucifolia is also abundant in small areas in the southern part of the site just north of the shrub area. Rough grassland is dominated by coarse species and covers much of the top end of the site. The shrub area has a understorey of rough grass with much cocksfoot and occasional herbs such as bittercress. The two hedgerows bordering the eastern and southern boundaries of the field appear to have been planted some 10-12 years ago and now require laying to ensure their form is maintained. The hedgerows contain mainly blackthorn and hawthorn (co-dominant) with smaller amounts of hazel and rose. The shrub area contains a wider variety of species with guelder rose as well as holly, hawthorn, oak, blackthorn and hazel. Some buckthorn may also be present. 10. 11. 12. Botanical Survey - clic here for details
Stocksbridge SRB5 Greenspace Audit undertaken by Jim Flanagan for Sheffield Wildlife Trust - see their Community Action Handbook - full of good ideas for your local site |
Inner Zone Outer Zone Countryside Zone Industrial Zone
I nner Zone Outer Zone Countryside Zone Industrial Zone
I nner Zone Outer Zone Countryside Zone Industrial Zone
Inner Zone Outer Zone Countryside Zone Industrial Zone
I nner Zone Outer Zone Countryside Zone Industrial Zone
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Text and Photographs (unless stated otherwise) © Steel Valley Partnership Stocksbridge, all rights reserved. Terms of use: Any involved in education or training may copy the contents of these web pages, with the proviso that they always make reference to the original copyright. |
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Web pages by Map21 Ltd - latest update 31 May 2004 |
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