Chorley Covert and Deserts Wood
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO701836 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 21.5 | 2012-05-29 |
| SO702833 | — | Favourable | 5.23 | 2012-05-29 |
| SO704838 | — | Favourable | 19.12 | 2012-05-29 |
| SO705843 | — | Favourable | 1.71 | 2012-05-30 |
| SO705844 | — | Favourable | 1.71 | 2012-05-30 |
| SO707839 | — | Favourable | 1.71 | 2012-05-30 |
| SO707843 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 26.1 | 2015-09-17 |
Habitats
Description
Area, 74.3 ha. 183.6 ac. Description The Coal Measures plateau of south east Shropshire, dissected by tributaries of the Severn, is a comparatively well wooded part of the county. Woods occur mainly in the stream valleys and several areas retain a high degree of scientific interest. These woods occur on geological strata and soils similar to those of the Wyre Forest, a few miles to the south and this is reflected in the flora and fauna. However, because of this geographical separation, the Wyre Forest is treated as a separate site. Chorley Covert and Deserts Wood comprise a large wood, mainly on acid soils which have developed from the Kinlet Beds of the Coal Measures. Most of the wood is dominated by sessile oak Quercus petraea and downy birch Betula pubescens, with abundant hazel Corylus avellana. The oak dominated areas have a ground flora which is characteristic of acid soils and which consists of creeping soft grass Holcus mollis, wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa, bracken Pteridium aquilinum, bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and, locally, heather Calluna vulgaris and bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus. Alongside the stream, damper, more fertile soils have developed and these support woodland in which alder Alnus glutinosa and ash Fraxinus excelsior are abundant. The ground flora in this community includes woodruff Galium odoratum, ramsons Allium ursinum, yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and sanicle Sanicula europaea and the uncommon species, alternate leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium alternifolium and columbine Aquilegia vulgaris. The comparatively scarce shrub, alder buckthorn Frangula alnus also occurs. Chorley Covert and Deserts Wood are especially valuable as a habitat for butterflies. Several uncommon species occur including the white admiral Limenitis camilla which here is at the northern limit of its range.
Species mentioned
Show the 19 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina
A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans
A18 — Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus fluitans community
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas