Lorton

Also within

Dorset County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic

Description

Lorton SSSI Description This site to the north of Weymouth overlays the Oxford Clays of the Jurassic and the associated soils of the Denchworth Series. The area supports a neutral grassland community now much reduced throughout Britain as well as the largest remaining area of semi-natural woodland within the Borough, part of which is ancient in origin. Among the many grasses which comprise the sward sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, crested dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus, red fescue Festuca rubra, common bent Agrostis capillaris and perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne are abundant. Meadow barley Hordeum secalinum and quaking grass Briza media are also frequent, glaucous sedge Carex flacca is widely distributed and hairy sedge Carex hirta and spring sedge Carex caryophyllea occur locally. A variety of herbs is present, forming a significant component of the sward. Common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, red and white clovers Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens and meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris are abundant. Meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus and the local pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus are also frequent and generally distributed, as is corky-fruited water dropwort Oenanthe pimpinelloides, a plant restricted to central southern England. A more calcareous influence is evident in places, with lady’s bedstraw Galium verum and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba locally frequent and bee orchid Ophrys apifera also occurs. Hoary ragwort Senecio erucifolius and strawberry clover Trifolium fragiferum, which are present, in contrast are typical of heavier, clay pastures. There are also a few wet areas, influenced by a degree of flushing. These are characterised by the presence of jointed rush Juncus articulatus and hard rush J. inflexus and the herbs bugle Ajuga reptans, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and cowslip Primula veris. The local bristle club-rush Isolepis setacea is also frequent here. The semi-natural woodland of Two-Mile Coppice is dominated by pedunculate oak Quercus robur, ash Fraxinus excelsior and field maple Acer campestre; English elm Ulmus procera was also formerly important here. There is a diverse under-storey with shrubs including hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, hazel Corylus avellana, guelder rose Viburnum opulus, holly Ilex aquifolium, dogwood Cornus sanguinea and privet Ligustrum vulgare. There is also a rich ground flora which includes frequent stinking iris Iris foetidissima, and, in the wetter areas pendulous sedge Carex pendula. Four orchid species occur, including greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, as does the local tutsan Hypericum androsaemum. Over 30 species of birds are known to breed within Two-Mile Coppice, and the woodland and herb-rich grassland which it adjoins provide good habitat for insects.

Species mentioned