Littlebeck Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.4287, -0.6428

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Also within

North Yorkshire County NORTH YORK MOORS National Park

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
NZ881045 — Unfavourable Recovering 16.77 2024-12-04

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Description

Description Little Beck Wood is situated on a steep north east facing hillside and is a good example of mixed deciduous woodland. The canopy species exhibit a wide age range with a well developed shrub and herb layer. Oak Quercus robur dominates the canopy with ash Fraxinus excelsior, wych elm Ulmus glabra, rowan Sorbus aucuparia, with alder Alnus glutinosa near the stream. The shrub layer is predominantly of hazel Corylus avellana, but holly Ilex aquifolium, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and blackthorn Prunus spinosa are also present. The ground flora includes dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, early purple orchid Orchis mascula and ramsons Allium ursinum. In the wetter situations moschatel Adoxa moschatellina, opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and the more local alternate leaved golden saxifrage C. alternifolium occur. Other Information 1. This is a new site. 2. The site is managed by the Yorkshire Naturalists' Trust as a nature reserve.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
moschatel Adoxa moschatellina LC herb adoxaceae
ramson Allium ursinum LC herb liliaceae
opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium LC herb saxifragaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
early purple orchid Orchis mascula LC herb orchidaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
rowan Sorbus aucuparia LC tree rosaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra 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