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HEN HOLMES WOOD (INDZ/ES02) Click here to see preliminary management plan for the site Click here to see species lists for this site General InformationSK27949846 Ownership On leasehold by
Corus Engineering Steels from unknown
owner Size 1.3 hectares
(494m perimeter) Designation(s) General
Industry Area with Special Industries Access Full access.
The site contains four rights of way - No. 13
(runs close to and parallel with the Little Don
River). No. 11 runs north-south along the eastern
boundary of the site. Another diverts from this to
run northwest - no. 11a - where it turns north to
joins another right of way - no. 10. No. 10,
together with a confusing number of informal paths
and desire lines occurring in the scrub area,
functions as a connection between rights of way 12A
and 11 (which on the definitive map should run on
eastern side of the site along a fenced field
boundary but was never laid out as it should have
when diverted as a result of the building of the
Stocksbridge bypass). An informal path diverges
from 11A to follow a route that joins with another
informal path on the western side of site. This
connects with footpath no 13 at the south west
corner of the site. Classification B3 Importance Secondary
woodland that has developed a dense shrub layer and
extensive area of ivy-dominant cover provide good
breeding habitat for birds. Scrub and small areas
of acid grassland along the northern boundary of
site. Species-rich ground flora present in stretch
of secondary riverine woodland. Date
Surveyed 14-03-00 (and
subsequent visits on 15-05-00 and
30-04-01)
1. 2.
3. Survey informationA former
industrial site that has re-vegetated, probably
over the last fifty or more years after the brick
and tile works were dismantled. History A brick work
factory was established on the site by Turner
Brothers in the first half of the nineteenth
century that was later taken over by John Armitage.
The factory produced tiles, bricks and other clay
products such as 'stoneware closet basins' Minerals
were exploited for the works were on this north
side of the Little Don valley and included coal and
gannister. The 1932 Geological OS Map refers to the
Hen Holmes works as 'Disused'. Topography The site is on
a generally south facing slope, but the ground
along the Little Don River is more or less level.
The remains of the works are now obscured by
vegetation. However, the ground in parts is very
uneven and some features, such as walls and pits
can be traced. The site also contains the ruins of
Wharncliffe Villa - which was the home of John
Armitage and his family. Recreation
and Use The path along
the river is used by people walking dogs. A return
visit also showed signs of cycling on this
path. Present
Management Virtually none.
Vegetation clearance of footpaths.
4. 5. Main Plant CommunitiesCommunity General
Description Characteristic
Species Community
A Tall
herb/bramble Rubus
fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Chamerion
angustifolium, Heracleum
sphondylium Community
B Willow-dominant
woodland and scrub Salix
caprea., Hedera helix, Rubus fruticosus agg.,
Eurynchium praelongum, Sambucus nigra, Fraxinus
excelsior, Geranium robertianum, Lonicera
periclymenium, Pteridium aqulinum Community
C Acid
grassland Deschampsia
flexuosa, Agrostis capillaris, Rumex acetosella,
Rumex acetosa, Hypochaeris radicata Community
D Secondary
riverine woodland Acer
pseudoplatanus, Salix sp., Crataegus monogyna,
Sambucus nigra, Hyacinthoides non-scriptus, Luzula
sylvatica,Cardamine flexuosa, Brachythecium
rutabulum, Stachys sylvatica, Ranunculus
ficaria Community
E Rough
grassland Dactylis
glomerata, Plantago lanceolata, Vicia
sepium
6. 7. Ecological InterestThe vegetation of this site has now practically hidden any signs of the former brickworks and in some areas is quite dense and forbidding. The woodland (community B) is dominated by goat willow but there are some areas where this gives way to artificial planting such as the line of horse chestnut trees in the northern part of the site. These may have lined an access route to the now demolished Wharncliffe Villa that was built by John Armitage who owned the brick works for many years during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Other areas where willow is not so dominant is much of the scrub area on the northern boundary of the site. Here hawthorn and oak tend to be more common, interspersing with small areas of tall herb, acid and rough grassland. Much of the woodland is has a dense ground cover of ivy with the result that the ground flora diversity is very poor and (the ivy extends to cover many shrubs and trees) but providing good cover for other species. Tall herb mostly consists of cow parsley, willowherb, hogweed and bramble with some bracken abundant in some small areas. There are two harts tongue fern locations in the main woodland compartment, both grow from a vegetated rubble strewn ground. Perhaps the area with most interest is the riverine strip of woodland that contains a diverse ground flora more akin to ancient semi-natural woodland with bluebell, lesser celandine, greater wood-rush, opposite-leaved golden saxifrage and wood speedwell all present. These have obviously seeded from material transported by the river from woodland sites further upstream - probably the main source being Sheephouse Wood. Along parts of the bank of the river there is evidence of a once walled front (particularly the western end) but much of it is now more naturalised due to the effects of disturbance, river flooding and/or scouring and deposition of silt. Much of the bank is colonised by a bright-green cover of the liverwort Lunularia cruciata. Japanese knotweed is present on the eastern end of this woodland strip. As the year progresses much of the compartment develops into tall herb with cow parsley, hogweed and willowherb prominent. Apart from Japanese knotweed along the riverbank area (close to main south entrance of site) other non-native species include lilac and London pride and there is a small area of rhododendron (near to the line of horse chestnuts). Acid grassland is not particularly of good quality and does not contain the full complement of species associated with the habitat. However to the north and north west of the site are grassland areas with considerable interest. On the 5 June the surveyor visited one of these areas (north west) to find a range of plants such as common figwort (Scrophularia nodosa), hairy tare (Vicia hirsuta), birds-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Changing Forget-me-not (Myosotis discolor) and cut-leaved cranesbill (Geranium dissectum) as well as abundant ox-eye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum). These areas could provide good habitat links with Hen Holmes and other sites on this side of the valley in general. Fungi were also present with, as expected, many examples of the blushing bracket (Daedaliopsis confragosa) having a preference for growing on willow. Invertebrate and other fauna interest is probably relatively rich, particularly in the scrub areas. Botanical Survey - to view lists of species click here 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
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Text and Photographs (unless stated otherwise) ©The Steel Valley Project Companies House Registration Number 4394953 Charities Registration Number 1095510 |
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latest update3/02/11 |
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