Combes Valley

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.0689, -1.9919

Also within

Staffordshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (8) Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SJ999513 Favourable 8.49 2021-09-01
SK003517 Favourable 22.42 2021-09-01
SK003523 Favourable 21.85 2021-09-01
SK006527 Unfavourable Recovering 20.3 2021-09-01
SK009524 Favourable 11.38 2021-09-01
SK009530 Favourable 13.74 2021-09-01
SK011524 Favourable 6.19 2018-03-13
SK012531 Favourable 4.54 2008-06-18
SK014532 Favourable 4.13 2010-09-28

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Alluvium, Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Fluvial, Glacial

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
grey wagtail Unknown
pied flycatcher Unknown
redstart Unknown
wood warbler Unknown
woodcock Unknown

Description

Area, 112.8 ha. 285.6 ac. Description To the south east of Leek the Combes Brook, a tributary of the River Churnet, has worn a steep valley through Upper Carboniferous strata. The valley is clothed with variably structured, ancient broadleaved woodland and both acidic and neutral grasslands. It supports outstanding assemblages of woodland breeding birds, beetles Coleoptera and moths and butterflies Lepidoptera. The brook has cut through layered sandstones, siltstones and mudstones. These rocks, together with overlying land slipped drift and boulder clay, have given rise to a complex pattern of soils which in turn influence the vegetation composition. However the history of land use has tended to obscure this relationship. The woodland is predominantly of the oak Quercus spp. – birch Betula spp. type. There are scattered mature trees but the canopy is generally young with extensive areas of regrowth following clear felling and frequent clearings. Alder Alnus glutinosa is found on the more fertile alluvium and down washed soils alongside the brook, as well as in localised flushed areas and spring sources on the slopes. Bracken Pteridium aquilinum or grasses occupy many open areas. Beneath the tree canopy the ground flora is typically poor in species with red fescue Festuca rubra, wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa, soft grasses Holcus spp., bramble Rubus fruticosus, buckler ferns Dryopteris spp. and bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus. Most of the former pastures are no longer grazed and floristically are of an acidic character. Though of limited botanical interest they are important feeding areas for birds and are rich in insect life. In places reversion to heathland, scrub and woodland is occurring. Grazed pastures, swards subject to regular cutting and hay meadows show marked botanical differences. The fields at the northern end of the valley are some of the least agriculturally improved and contain county rarities such as moonwort Botrychium lunaria, greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, saw wort Serratula tinctoria and adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum. Here, mature hedgerows of varied composition separate the pastures. They provide valuable nest sites and invertebrate habitats and form an 'ecological link' between woodland and grassland. The site supports an especially good range and high density of woodland birds, including four predatory species, three woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker and green woodpecker, seven warblers and six finches. There are strong populations of three song birds characteristic of western valley oak woods namely redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus, pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca and wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix. The clean, fast flowing waters of the Combes Brook are frequented by dipper Cinclus cinclus and grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea and the brookside pastures provide favoured feeding areas for woodcock Scolopax rusticola. Overall, some sixty bird species have bred over the last seven years. Of the invertebrate fauna the beetles, moths and butterflies have received most study. The beetle fauna is especially rich in species which are dependent on a continuity of dead or decaying timber. These include many nationally important species and several national rarities e.g. Xyleborus dispar, Elateroides dermestoides and Latridius consimilis. The more uncommon and geographically restricted butterflies and moths include the Schaffer’s ermel Swammerdamia compunctella, alder kitten Furcula bicuspis, ruddy high flyer Hydriomena ruberata and the high brown fritillary Argynnis adippe. The last is a nationally threatened and declining species on the eastern edge of its range.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
beetle Elateroides dermestoides LC beetle lymexylidae
Latridius consimilis Not listed in GB list beetle latridiidae
dipper Cinclus cinclus NT (Breeding) bird-dipper cinclidae
pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca VU (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus LC (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea NT (Breeding) bird-wagtail motacillidae
wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix VU (Breeding) bird-warbler phylloscopidae
woodcock Scolopax rusticola LC (NonBreeding), VU (Breeding) bird-woodcock scolopacidae
great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major LC (Breeding) bird-woodpecker picidae
lesser spotted woodpecker Dryobates minor EN (Breeding) bird-woodpecker picidae
green woodpecker Picus viridis LC (Breeding) bird-woodpecker picidae
moonwort Botrychium lunaria VU fern ophioglossaceae
adders-tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum LC fern ophioglossaceae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha NT herb orchidaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
saw wort Serratula tinctoria VU herb asteraceae
alder kitten Furcula bicuspis Not listed in GB list moth notodontidae
ruddy highflyer Hydriomena ruberata Not listed in GB list moth geometridae
no common name Swammerdamia compunctella Not listed in GB list moth yponomeutidae
billberry Vaccinium myrtillus LC shrub ericaceae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus 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

Isolepis 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

Berula 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

Fontinalis 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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Hedera 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