Bushy Hazels & Cwmma Moors

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.1530, -3.0447

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Herefordshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO285509 — Favourable 23.28 2016-05-16
SO287512 — Favourable 7.01 2010-01-11

Habitats

Coppiced woodland, Wet woodland

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Sandstone

Description

Area, 29.54 ha. 73 ac. Description Bushy Hazels and Cwmma Moors are two adjacent blocks of ancient primary woodland occupying a damp site on loamy soils derived from the Old Red Sandstone series. They form part of the national series of woodlands in Britain. They were selected as representing wet mixed deciduous woodland characteristic of this part of the Welsh borders. The woods are calcareous hazel ash woods Corylus avellana Fraxinus excelsior with locally abundant alder Alnus glutinosa. Other associated species are oak Quercus robur and wych elm Ulmus glabra which are well represented, the latter having been seriously affected by dutch elm disease in recent years. The two woodlands display differences of past management. Bushy Hazels consists of relict coppice, most of the larger timber trees having been removed in the past; Cwmma moors on the other hand, having a relatively dense canopy cover dominated by the native tree species already referred to. The understorey and shrub layers are well developed in certain areas but not in others. The ground vegetation is rich and varied; bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta is particularly abundant in Bushy Hazels whilst dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis and wood garlic Allium ursinum dominates large areas of the rest of the woodland. Other notable species present include herb paris Paris quadrifolia, sanicle Sanicula europaea and common twayblade Neottia ovata. Several small streams flow through the woodland. Of these only the one on the south western boundary has developed characteristic wet woodland flora dominated by alder Alnus glutinosa. In this area species such as meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria and pendulous sedge Carex pendula occur.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
ramson Allium ursinum LC herb liliaceae
meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria LC herb rosaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
common twayblade Neottia ovata NT herb orchidaceae
herb paris Paris quadrifolia VU herb melanthiaceae
sanicle Sanicula europaea LC herb apiaceae
pendulous sedge Carex pendula LC sedge cyperaceae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
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

Plant communities

W1 — Wet woodland

Salix cinerea-Galium palustre woodland

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Salix purpurea, Salix viminalis, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Quercus robur, Alnus glutinosa, Frangula alnus, Crataegus monogyna, Solanum dulcamara, Carex nigra, Carex paniculata, Carex remota, Carex riparia, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergon cordifolium, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Lophocolea bidentata, Angelica sylvestris, Apium nodiflorum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Valeriana officinalis, Silene flos-cuculi, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Iris pseudacorus, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Lemna minor, Epilobium palustre, Callitriche stagnalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex sanguineus, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus repens, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Dactylis glomerata, Glyceria fluitans, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Dryopteris carthusiana

W2 — Wet woodland

Salix cinerea-Betula pubescens-Phragmites australis woodland

Hedera helix, Salix aurita, Salix cinerea, Salix fragilis, Betula pubescens, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Alnus glutinosa, Myrica gale, Viburnum opulus, Frangula alnus, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus monogyna, Solanum dulcamara, Carex acuta, Carex acutiformis, Carex nigra, Carex paniculata, Carex remota, Carex vesicaria, Cladium mariscus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Plagiomnium undulatum, Pohlia nutans, Rhizomnium pseudopunctatum, Campylopus flexuosus, Amblystegium serpens, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Leptodictyum riparium, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium nemorale, Atrichum undulatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Pellia epiphylla, Humulus lupulus, Tamus communis, Angelica sylvestris, Berula erecta, Thyselium palustre, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Lonicera periclymenum, Valeriana officinalis, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Geranium robertianum, Ajuga reptans, Glechoma hederacea, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Lythrum salicaria, Menyanthes trifoliata, Epilobium hirsutum, Epilobium palustre, Lysimachia vulgaris, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Scutellaria galericulata, Urtica dioica, Agrostis canina, Agrostis stolonifera, Calamagrostis canescens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Glyceria maxima, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Dryopteris cristata, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis, Thelypteris limbosperma, Thelypteris palustris, Athyrium filix-femina

W3 — Turlough and fluctuation mere, Wet woodland

Salix pentandra-Carex rostrata woodland

Hedera helix, Salix aurita, Salix cinerea, Salix myrsinifolia, Salix pentandra, Salix phylicifolia, Salix viminalis, Betula pubescens, Alnus glutinosa, Crataegus monogyna, Solanum dulcamara, Carex appropinquata, Carex echinata, Carex laevigata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex rostrata, Carex vesicaria, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus effusus, Aulacomnium androgynum, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium elatum, Plagiomnium ellipticum, Plagiomnium rostratum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranoweisia cirrata, Fissidens adianthoides, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergon cordifolium, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Climacium dendroides, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Oxyrrhynchium speciosum, Sanionia uncinata, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum squarrosum, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Chiloscyphus pallescens, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Douinia ovata, Jungermannia obovata, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Plagiochila asplenioides, Saccogyna viticulosa, Conocephalum conicum, Marchantia polymorpha sens.lat., Pellia endiviifolia, Angelica sylvestris, Oenanthe crocata, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Eupatorium cannabinum, Myosotis laxa caespitosa, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine flexuosa, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Valeriana officinalis, Silene flos-cuculi, Parnassia palustris, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Pyrola rotundifolia, Ajuga reptans, Galeopsis tetrahit, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Lemna minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Veronica scutellata, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Lysimachia vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus repens, Trollius europaeus, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, Scutellaria galericulata, Urtica dioica, Viola palustris, Agrostis stolonifera, Deschampsia cespitosa, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Dryopteris dilatata, Athyrium filix-femina

W4 — Raised bog, Upland birch wood, Wet woodland

Betula pubescens-Molinia caerulea woodland

Hedera helix, Salix aurita, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea, Salix pentandra, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aucuparia, Alnus glutinosa, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Crataegus monogyna, Carex laevigata, Carex nigra, Carex rostrata, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus effusus, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Drepanocladus fluitans, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Straminergon stramineum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Angelica sylvestris, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Cirsium palustre, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Menyanthes trifoliata, Chamerion angustifolium, Epilobium palustre, Oxalis acetosella, Rumex acetosa, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Galium saxatile, Galium uliginosum, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris carthusiana, Dryopteris cristata, Dryopteris dilatata, Athyrium filix-femina

W5 — Wet woodland

Alnus glutinosa-Carex paniculata woodland

Hedera helix, Salix aurita, Salix cinerea, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pubescens, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aucuparia, Alnus glutinosa, Viburnum opulus, Ribes nigrum, Ribes sylvestris, Ligustrum vulgare, Frangula alnus, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus monogyna, Solanum dulcamara, Carex acutiformis, Carex appropinquata, Carex elata, Carex elongata, Carex paniculata, Carex pseudocyperus, Carex remota, Carex riparia, Scirpus sylvaticus, Juncus effusus, Sparganium erectum, Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium rostratum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Amblystegium serpens, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergon cordifolium, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Atrichum undulatum, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum squarrosum, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Pellia endiviifolia, Pellia epiphylla, Humulus lupulus, Angelica sylvestris, Berula erecta, Cicuta virosa, Oenanthe crocata, Thyselium palustre, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Impatiens capensis, Myosotis laxa, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine amara, Cardamine pratensis, Lonicera periclymenum, Valeriana dioica, Valeriana officinalis, Silene flos-cuculi, Calystegia sepium, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Equisetum telmateia, Geranium robertianum, Hypericum tetrapterum, Iris pseudacorus, Ajuga reptans, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Lythrum salicaria, Circaea lutetiana, Epilobium hirsutum, Epilobium parviflorum, Callitriche stagnalis, Rumex hydrolapathum, Rumex sanguineus, Lysimachia vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus lingua, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum flavum, Filipendula ulmaria, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, Scrophularia auriculata, Scutellaria galericulata, Urtica dioica, Viola palustris, Agrostis stolonifera, Calamagrostis canescens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Glyceria maxima, Holcus lanatus, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Dryopteris cristata, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Osmunda regalis, Thelypteris palustris, Athyrium filix-femina

W6 — Brownfield, Wet woodland

Alnus glutinosa-Urtica dioica woodland

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea, Salix fragilis, Salix viminalis, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Alnus glutinosa, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum opulus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Solanum dulcamara, Carex acutiformis, Carex paniculata, Carex riparia, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Lophocolea heterophylla, Humulus lupulus, Angelica sylvestris, Heracleum sphondylium, Oenanthe crocata, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Petasites hybridus, Taraxacum officianalis, Impatiens glandulifera, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria media agg., Equisetum arvense, Equisetum palustre, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris pseudacorus, Glechoma hederacea, Mentha aquatica, Stachys sylvatica, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Epilobium hirsutum, Epilobium montanum, Epilobium palustre, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica montana, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex sanguineus, Lysimachia vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, Urtica dioica, Agrostis stolonifera, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Athyrium filix-femina

W7 — Wet woodland

Alnus glutinosa-Fraxinus excelsior-Lysimachia nemorum woodland

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea, Salix pentandra, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus padus, Sorbus aucuparia, Alnus glutinosa, Ulmus glabra, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum opulus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Carex laevigata, Carex nigra, Carex pendula, Carex remota, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus effusus, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Brachythecium rivulare, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Cirriphyllum piliferum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Oxyrrhynchium hians, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium succulentum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum squarrosum, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Conocephalum conicum, Pellia endiviifolia, Pellia epiphylla, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Oenanthe crocata, Achillea ptarmica, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Eupatorium cannabinum, Tussilago farfara, Myosotis secunda, Cardamine amara, Cardamine flexuosa, Cardamine pratensis, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Silene dioica, Silene flos-cuculi, Stellaria alsine, Stellaria holostea, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum sylvaticum, Equisetum telmateia, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris pseudacorus, Ajuga reptans, Glechoma hederacea, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Mentha aquatica, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Epilobium obscurum, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica montana, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus repens, Filipendula ulmaria, Fragaria vesca, Geum rivale, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium saxatile, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, Urtica dioica, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Glyceria fluitans, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Phalaris arundinacea, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Athyrium filix-femina

W18 — Caledonian forest, Wet woodland

Pinus sylvestris-Hylocomium splendens woodland

Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Larix decidua, Picea abies, Picea sitchensis, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aucuparia, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Juniperus communis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Aulacomnium palustre, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum russowii, Anastrepta orcadensis, Barbilophozia floerkei, Bazzania trilobata, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Diplophyllum albicans, Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea bidentata, Scapania gracilis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia cornuta, Cladonia digitata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia macilenta, Cladonia pyxidata, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Goodyera repens, Neottia cordata, Oxalis acetosella, Trientalis europaea, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum