Gamston & Eaton Woods & Roadside Verges
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK723773 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 0.9 | 2010-06-04 |
| SK725772 | — | Favourable | 0.49 | 2010-06-18 |
| SK726771 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 0.64 | 2010-06-04 |
| SK727767 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 31.17 | 2010-08-26 |
| SK727775 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 23.95 | 2010-08-26 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Triassic
Description
Area,57.5 ha142.1 ac Description The site comprises one of the best examples of an ash oak maple wood in Nottinghamshire and is representative of semi natural woodland developed on clay soils in Central and Eastern England. It is complemented by species rich roadside verges. A fine example of ash oak maple woodland developed primarily on soils derived from the Triassic Keuper Marl. Although the woodland structure has been modified by recent management the site is dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior and oak Quercus robur, with birch Betula pendula also common. The main constituents of the understorey are hazel Corylus avellana, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, privet Ligustrum vulgare, goat willow Salix caprea and field maple Acer campestre and there is a strong development of woody climbing and rambling plants, notably honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum, bramble Rubus fruticosus and rose Rose spp. The ground vegetation is characterised by the abundance of dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, wood meadow grass Poa nemoralis, wood avens Geum urbanum, sweet woodruff Galium odoratum, sanicle Sanicula europaea and primrose Primula veris, together with a variety of other plant species indicative of ancient woodland. The woodland rides have a well developed flora characteristic of heavy clay soils. Typical plants are meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum, creeping jenny L. nummularia, twayblade Neottia ovata and other woodland orchids. Additional interest is provided by the variety of the breeding bird community which utilises the site. To the west of East and Gamston Woods the roadside verges carry a grassland sward of unusual species richness. The sward varies in character, some areas being dominated by cock's foot Dactylis glomerata and false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius while others are dominated by sheep's fescue Festuca ovina or tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum. The fescue and tor grass swards have developed calcareous plant communities containing such herbs as saw wort Serratula tinctoria, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria, rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, great burnet saxifrage Pimpinella major and wild liquorice Astragalus glycyphyllos. These verges, botanically, are among the richest in Nottinghamshire and constitute a valuable breeding and feeding area for a variety of butterflies and other insects.
Species mentioned
Show the 31 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
MG4 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture
Alopecurus pratensis-Sanguisorba officinalis grassland
Show 71 indicator speciesCarex acutiformis, Carex hirta, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium elatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Hypochaeris radicata, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Serratula tinctoria, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum arvense, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sepium, Fritillaria meleagris, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum flavum, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anglica, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Bromopsis erecta, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Chara curta
MG5 — Lowland meadow and pasture, Traditional orchard
Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra grassland
Show 81 indicator speciesCarex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Knautia arvensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Colchicum autumnale, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla vestita, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Chara curta
MG8 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture
Cynosurus cristatus-Caltha palustris grassland
Show 70 indicator speciesCarex demissa, Carex distans, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium rostratum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Achillea ptarmica, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum palustre, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Mentha aquatica, Euphrasia nemorosa, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Glyceria declinata, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Dryopteris expansa