Pipershill Common

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.2835, -2.0618

Also within

Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO957649 Unfavourable Recovering 15.93 2010-05-07
SO958650 Unfavourable Recovering 15.93 2010-05-07

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
redstart Breeding

Description

Description Pipershill Common is one of the few remaining areas of ancient wood pasture in Worcestershire. It lies on soils derived from the Keuper Marl. The Common contains some of the largest and oldest specimens of mature and over mature trees now found in the county. Many of these trees are ancient pollards with large spreading crowns typical of wood pasture and ancient parkland. The woodland occupies a plateau and west facing slopes. The soils of the plateau appear to be leached and are more acid than those of the slopes. On the plateau the main tree species are beech Fagus sylvatica and pedunculate oak Quercus robur with some sweet chestnut Castanea sativa. Much of this woodland where beech predominates is densely shaded and characteristically lacks a good shrub layer or ground flora. However where the beech cover gives way to oak allowing more light penetration a ground flora dominated by bracken Pteridium aquilinum and creeping soft grass Holcus mollis is present. On the slopes the soils are calcareous and damper. Here ash Fraxinus excelsior becomes more common and the shrub layer is richer with species such as hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, hazel Corylus avellana, holly Ilex aquifolium and goat willow Salix caprea present. The ground flora also reflects the calcareous nature of the soil with abundant dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and enchanter’s nightshade Circaea lutetiana. The woodland also contains a number of locally uncommon plant species including broadleaved helleborine Epipactis helleborine, purple helleborine Epipactis purpurata and bird’s nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis. One or two small flushes and a pool also occur within the site, the last supporting a small population of characteristic wetland plants such as reed mace Typha latifolia, yellow waterlily Nuphar lutea and broadleaved pondweed Potamogeton natans. The area is one of the most notable in this part of the West Midlands for fungi with over 200 species recorded. These include less common species such as truffle Choiromyces meandriformis, beefsteak fungus Fistula hepatica and chanterelle Cantharellus cibarius. The presence of so many ancient trees with their cracks and fissures provide many sites for hole nesting birds such as tree creeper Certhia familiaris, redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus and all three native woodpecker.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
treecreeper Certhia familiaris LC (Breeding) bird-creeper certhiidae
redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus LC (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
reedmace Typha latifolia LC bulrush typhaceae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
truffle Choiromyces meandriformis Not listed in GB list fungus tuberaceae
creeping soft grass Holcus mollis LC grass poaceae
enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana LC herb onagraceae
broad-leaved helleborine Epipactis helleborine DD herb orchidaceae
violet helleborine Epipactis purpurata LC herb orchidaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
birdsnest orchid Neottia nidus-avis VU herb orchidaceae
water lillies Nuphar lutea LC herb nymphaeaceae
broadleaved pondweed Potamogeton natans LC herb potamogetonaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
sweet chestnut Castanea sativa LC tree fagaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
goat willow Salix caprea LC tree shrub salicaceae

Plant communities

W10 — Atlantic oak wood, Lowland dry oak and birch wood, Lowland mixed oak and ash wood, Wood pasture

Quercus robur-Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus woodland

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Carpinus betulus, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Castanea sativa, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Tilia cordata, Tilia x europaea, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua, Pinus nigra, Pinus sylvestris, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Malus sylvestris, Prunus avium, Sorbus aucuparia, Alnus glutinosa, Populus tremula, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Viburnum opulus, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Ligustrum vulgare, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Carex sylvatica, Juncus effusus, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium rostratum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Ceratodon purpureus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranoweisia cirrata, Dicranum scoparium, Amblystegium serpens, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum formosum, Lophocolea bidentata, Pellia epiphylla, Narcissus pseudonarcissus, Aegopodium podagraria, Anthriscus sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Sanicula europaea, Jacobaea vulgaris, Solidago virgaurea, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Euphorbia amygdaloides, Mercurialis perennis, Corydalis claviculata, Geranium robertianum, Ajuga reptans, Glechoma hederacea, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Rumex sanguineus, Lysimachia nemorum, Lysimachia nummularia, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Potentilla sterilis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium odoratum, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W11 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Oxalis acetosella woodland

Acer campestre, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Juniperus communis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Cytisus scoparius, Crataegus monogyna, Rubus saxatilis, Carex pilulifera, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Cirriphyllum piliferum, Eurhynchium striatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum longisetum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila spinulosa, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Campanula rotundifolia, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria holostea, Pyrola minor, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Lathyrus montanus, Geranium robertianum, Hypericum pulchrum, Ajuga reptans, Teucrium scorodonia, Convallaria majalis, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Primula vulgaris, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W14 — Beech wood, Wood pasture

Fagus sylvatica-Rubus fruticosus woodland

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Prunus avium, Sorbus aria, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Sambucus nigra, Ruscus aculeatus, Ligustrum vulgare, Carex remota, Carex sylvatica, Luzula pilosa, Mnium hornum, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens taxifolius, Brachythecium rutabulum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Arum maculatum, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Stellaria media agg., Euphorbia amygdaloides, Mercurialis perennis, Hypericum pulchrum, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Epipactis helleborine, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Geum urbanum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium odoratum, Galium verum, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus giganteus, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas

W15 — Beech wood, Wood pasture

Fagus sylvatica-Deschampsia flexuosa woodland

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata, Calluna vulgaris, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ruscus aculeatus, Carex pilulifera, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum formosum, Tetraphis pellucida, Calypogeia fissa, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnocolea inflata, Lepidozia reptans, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia squamules, Lonicera periclymenum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Rubus fruticosus agg., Melanpyrum pratense, Agrostis capillaris, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata

W16 — Atlantic oak wood, Lowland dry oak and birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus spp.-Betula spp.-Deschampsia flexuosa woodland

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Castanea sativa, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Sorbus aucuparia, Populus tremula, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Frangula alnus, Crataegus monogyna, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Campylopus pyriformis, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranodontium denudatum, Dicranoweisia cirrata, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium nemorale, Plagiothecium succulentum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Tetraphis pellucida, Barbilophozia attenuata, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Gymnocolea inflata, Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia coniocraea, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia polydactyla, Cladonia squamosa, Solidago virgaurea, Lonicera periclymenum, Corydalis claviculata, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata

W17 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Dicranum majus woodland

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Juniperus communis, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Crataegus monogyna, Carex pilulifera, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Andreaea rupestris, Mnium hornum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranodontium denudatum, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Dicranum scottianum, Leucobryum glaucum, Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Eurhynchium striatum, Heterocladium heteropterum, Hylocomiastrum umbratum, Hylocomium armoricum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sematophyllum demissum, Sematophyllum micans, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Tetraphis pellucida, Adelanthus decipiens, Anastrepta orcadensis, Barbilophozia attenuata, Barbilophozia floerkei, Bazzania tricrenata, Bazzania trilobata, Blepharostoma trichophyllum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Frullania tamarisci, Fuscocephaloziopsis lunulifolia, Harpanthus scutatus, Jamesoniella autumnalis, Jungermannia gracillima, Lepidozia pearsonii, Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Lophozia ventricosa, Marsupella emarginata, Microlejeunea ulicina, Mylia taylorii, Nowellia curvifolia, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila atlantica, Plagiochila killarniensis, Plagiochila porelloides, Plagiochila punctata, Plagiochila spinulosa, Ptilidium ciliare, Saccogyna viticulosa, Scapania gracilis, Scapania nemorea, Scapania umbrosa, Tritomaria exsectiformis, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia digitata, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia polydactyla, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia squamules, Cladonia subcervicornis, Parmelia saxatilis, Sphaerophorus fragilis, Sphaerophorus globosus, Solidago virgaurea, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cornus suecica, Hypericum pulchrum, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Goodyera repens, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris aemula, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Hymenophyllum tunbrigense, Hymenophyllum wilsonii, Polypodium vulgare, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

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