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LITTLE DON ACID HEATH (INDZES03) Click here to see preliminary management plan for the site Click here to see species lists for this site
General InformationSK28439818 Ownership Corus
Engineering Steels Size 0.8 hectares
(388m perimeter) Designation(s) Green
Belt Access Full public
access. The site contains part of the route (made
up of permissive paths) of the Little Don Walk with
a stretch following the river and both the west and
east sides of the site. A number of desire lines
and less formal paths cross the heathland and birch
scrub part of the site, consisting of compacted
cinder ash. Classification B3 Importance Acid-type heath
with spring and pool surrounded by wet rush
vegetation. Date
Surveyed 10-03-00
Survey informationAn
ex-industrial site that formerly contained tramway
sidings and a depot, re-landscaped and planted up
with introduced species. History The first
edition OS Map of 1854 shows this field as probably
an agricultural one. The next edition of 1905 shows
the site with a brick yard and tramway. The tramway
enabled minerals and finished products to be
transported on both sides of the river between Hen
Holmes Works and the Gannister and Brick Works at
Wood Royd. The 1932 OS geology map still shows the
brickyard with tramway and shed. Tramway and shed
went out of use probably soon after the Hen Holmes
works shut down during in the 1930s but both the
1974 OS map and 1986 (1:2,500) maps still show the
existence of sidings on the site. Topography The site is
situated on the north side of a bend in the Little
Don River and just south of the Stocksbridge steel
works railway line. Most of the site is on a level
plateau with slopes down along the south, east and
west (overlooking allotment gardens). There is
little evidence of the former use the site was put
to but much of the ground is cinder ash. Woodland
covers most of the southern half of the site with
heather and scrub and tall herb in the northern
part. Recreation
and Use Used by dog
walkers and sometimes by cyclists. The remains of a
tree house is located in willow woodland in the
north east part of site. In the same area as one
follows the path out of the site along the rail
line a bench has been installed on the edge of the
willow woodland. Present
Management None, apart
from path clearance. Previous management focussed
on rhododendron control and there are still some
areas in the south part of site where rhododendron
is still present. Some attempt has been made to cut
down the invasive grey alder on the heath area with
cuttings left on site. 1. 2. 3. 4 5. 7. 6. 8. 9. 10. 1
Main Plant CommunitiesCommunity General
Description Characteristic
Species Community
A Tall
herb Centaurea
nigra Chamerion angustifolium, Hypericum sp.
Community
B Bare ground and
low herbs Cladonia
sp., Peltigera lactucifolia Community
C Willow
woodland/scrub Salix sp.,
Rhododendron ponticum, Crataegus monogyna, Rubus
fruticosus agg., Ranunculus repens, Galium
aparine Community
D Alder
woodland Alnus
incana, Rubus fruticosus agg.,
Eurynchium praelongum Community
E Heathland Calluna
vulgaris, Hypnum cupressiforme Community
F Birch
scrub Betula sp.,
Teucrium scorodonia Community
G Wet rush
(Juncus) area Juncus
effusus, Calluna vulgaris, Ranunculus repens,
Betula sp.
Ecological InterestThe site, although not particularly large is of some importance as it is freely accessible and part of the route of the Little Don Walk. Most of the site is composed of woodland but the central part is dominated by grey alder. This alder is an introduced species from the continent that is widely planted for its ability to stabilise slag heaps and loose, infertile ground, suckers readily and binds soils. Unfortunately, it is also fast growing and is invading the heathland area of the site. Bramble is very vigorous within this part of the wood and management to control these two would maintain the open habitat of the heath. The site also contains extensive willow woodland on three sides with some areas containing many saplings but also a limited ground flora. Birch scrub is located on the northern side of the site where the soils appear to be more free-draining (except for the pond and wet Juncus area). The birch scrub contains some ground flora interest such as wood sage (Teucrium scorodonoia) but much of the ground is bare and compacted cinder ash or has a cover of mosses and lichens (such as the Cladonia cup-type lichens). Tall herb, particularly alongside the boundary with the railway line, is an unusual, but not surprising, combination of species characteristic of urban situations or post-industrial sites such as mugwort, common St John's-wort, tansy and black knapweed. Some of the heather is becoming old, perhaps over 15 to 20 years, and could benefit from cutting. Under the heather some sparse lichen communities are present but a large patch of the luxuriant dog lichen Peltigera lactucifolia was found (also present elsewhere on the site in small amounts). Extensive moss cover was also present with the main species being Hypnum cupressiforme. 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
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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 24 Apl 2005 |
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