Combes Valley
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (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
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| 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
Show the 24 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
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
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
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix 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
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera 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
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera 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
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