Sowley Pond

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.7696, -1.4692

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable No Change (1) Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SZ375967 Unfavourable No Change 16.45 2019-08-23
SZ375968 Favourable 32.83 2009-02-09

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Iron Mine / Works

Landscape processes: Coastal

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
great crested grebe Breeding
great crested grebe Roosting
great crested grebe Wintering
grey heron Breeding
grey heron Roosting
grey heron Wintering
mallard Breeding
mallard Roosting
mallard Wintering
pochard Breeding
pochard Roosting
pochard Wintering
teal Breeding
teal Roosting
teal Wintering
tufted duck Breeding
tufted duck Roosting
tufted duck Wintering
wigeon Breeding
wigeon Roosting
wigeon Wintering

Description

Area, 47.97 hectares 118.54 ac Description Sowley Pond is an important refuge for both surface feeding and diving ducks and in this respect functions as an integral part of the marshland system of the west Solent, which includes Hurst Castle to Lymington River Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest and the North Solent Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve. The pond is surrounded by mature oak Quercus and Scot's pine Pinus sylvestris woodland which supports the largest Hampshire heronry (heron). Sowley Pond was formed in the fourteenth century by damming a small stream and in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries became a hammer pond for an ironworks situated close to the present dam. The numbers of ducks have fluctuated widely over the years but the pond has supported some hundreds of moulting mallard in the summer and it is used as a daytime roost by several hundred wigeon Mareca penelope and teal Anas crecca in winter. Numbers of tufted duck Aythya fuligula and pochard Aythya ferina are often substantial. Breeding wetland birds include mallard, tufted duck and great crested grebes Podiceps cristatus. The heronry grey heron Ardea cinerea, at present 1984 in mature Scot's pine, has increased steadily since the 1960s and in 1984 held 60 occupied nests. The woodland elements of the SSSI are mainly secondary plantations dating from the nineteenth century. They are included in the SSSI in order to safeguard the heronry and allow for periodic movement of the nesting area; and to ensure adequate seclusion for the pond. However, they also possess considerable intrinsic interest owing to the abundance of mature and decaying timber, a well developed shrub layer of hazel Corylus avellana and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and a comparatively well developed flora which includes at least some species characteristic of ancient woodland. There is a notable abundance of butcher's brome Ruscus aculeatus and wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides, which is usually an indication of long persistence of woodland or wood pasture in central southern England. It is probable that open pasture adjoined parts of the Pond until it was planted with oak and Scot's pine.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
teal Anas crecca LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
mallard Anas platyrhynchos NT (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
pochard Aythya ferina EN (NonBreeding), EN (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
tufted duck Aythya fuligula LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
wigeon Mareca penelope LC (NonBreeding), NT (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus LC (NonBreeding), VU (Breeding) bird-grebe podicipedidae
grey heron Ardea cinerea LC (NonBreeding), NT (Breeding) bird-heron ardeidae
wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides LC herb euphorbiaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
butchers-broom Ruscus aculeatus LC shrub liliaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
Scot's pine Pinus sylvestris LC tree pinaceae

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

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