Overhall Grove

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.2490, -0.0412

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Cambridgeshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable No Change (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TL338630 — Unfavourable No Change 17.43 2024-03-20

Habitats

Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Description

Area, 17.7 hectares 43.7 ac Description Overhall Grove is an ancient secondary woodland now dominated by small leaved elm Ulmus minor and represents a woodland type which is nationally restricted in its distribution. The wood overlies the site, fields and ponds of a medieval manor house and was well established by 1650. This break, or discontinuity, in tree cover with no primary woodland nucleus remaining has resulted in a classic example of the long lasting effects on the ground flora of the removal of woodland cover. The woodland that had developed by the end of the 17th Century was oak over ash coppice with standards and was planted with elm when coppice management declined. Elm has developed by suckering and is now dominant as massive standards with oak and ash. The site lies on moderately steep slopes with heavy clay soils throughout. The woodland ground flora is dominated by stinging nettle Urtica dioica, ground ivy Glechoma hederacea, cleavers Galium aparine, hogweed Heracleum sphondylium and rough stalked meadow grass Poa trivialis. Rides, clearings, ponds and a meandering stream provide additional habitats of general value. Re presentation of details approved by Council. Re typed July 1998.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
rough meadow grass Poa trivialis LC grass poaceae
goosegrass Galium aparine LC herb rubiaceae
ground ivy Glechoma hederacea LC herb lamiaceae
hogweed Heracleum sphondylium CR(PE) herb apiaceae
nettle Urtica dioica LC herb urticaceae
small leaved elm Ulmus minor LC tree ulmaceae

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