Redgate Woods and Mansey Common

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.1321, -0.9865

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (5)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SK677598 Unfavourable Recovering 39.7 2009-05-06
SK678601 Unfavourable Recovering 5.07 2009-05-06
SK681602 Unfavourable Recovering 5.23 2009-05-06
SK683597 Unfavourable Recovering 6.41 2009-05-06
SK684607 Unfavourable Recovering 14.86 2010-06-30

Habitats

Ancient woodland

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Triassic

Description

Description The site comprises some of the best remaining examples of broad leaved semi natural woodland and neutral grassland in Nottinghamshire and is representative of woodland and grassland developed on the Midland clays. Biology Redgate Woods, A fine example of an ash elm wood developed in part on stiff clays of the Triassic Keuper Marl. The variation in past management together with the range of soil type, slope and aspect present is reflected in the diversity of the stand types and variation in shrub and field layer vegetation. Characteristically, the semi natural stands are dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior, wych elm Ulmus glabra, pedunculate oak Quercus robur and silver birch Betula pendula although, locally, sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus is common. hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, hazel Corylus avellana, field maple Acer campestre and privet Ligustrum vulgare are the most frequent shrubs, while the ground layer in some areas is dominated by honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum and bramble Rubus fruticosus and in others by bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta or dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis. The ground vegetation is very diverse, including a wide range of typical ancient woodland species. Additional interest is provided by the presence of species rich glades and by the quality of the breeding bird populations. Mansey Common, A good example of species rich neutral grassland characteristic of rough pasture developed on stiff clay soils. The sward is dominated by tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa with Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and red fescue Festuca rubra also common. Typical plants of this community are lady's bedstraw Galium verum, betony Betonica officinalis, dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus and knapweed Centaurea nigra. Additional interest is provided by the adjoining section of Dumble; a narrow, steep sided, wooded valley which possesses a ground flora similar to the flushed slopes of ancient woodland.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa LC grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus LC grass poaceae
betony Betonica officinalis VU herb lamiaceae
black knapweed Centaurea nigra LC herb asteraceae
lady's bedstraw Galium verum LC herb rubiaceae
dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria LC herb fabaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum LC herb caprifoliaceae
birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus LC herb fabaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
wild privet Ligustrum vulgare LC shrub oleaceae
field maple Acer campestre LC tree aceraceae
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae