Woodchester Park

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.7094, -2.2624

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (5) Unfavourable Recovering (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO804013 Favourable 42.39 2009-08-21
SO808013 Favourable 0.45 2010-02-18
SO810013 Favourable 13.2 2009-08-21
SO811018 Unfavourable Recovering 7.36 2013-09-03
SO816012 Favourable 162.64 2009-08-21
SO821012 Favourable 42.39 2009-08-21
SO834009 Unfavourable Recovering 2.22 2013-09-03

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
little grebe Breeding
little grebe Wintering
mallard Breeding
mallard Wintering
sparrowhawk Breeding

Description

Area, 214.9 ha. 531.0 ac. Description The site occupies a secluded and sheltered valley running roughly east/west in the dip slope of the Cotswold escarpment near Nailsworth. It overlies Jurassic limestone and clays and supports a diverse fauna and flora associated with the grassland, woodland and wetland habitats that lie within the valley. The seclusion, shelter and range of habitats provide an unrivalled environment which is exploited by a nationally important breeding colony of greater horseshoe bats Rhinolophus ferrumequinum centred on the Mansion near the western end of the site. The valley is also of outstanding invertebrate interest. Woodland is the most extensive habitat, the majority of the site being managed for timber production. Remnants of the original semi natural woodland dominated by beech Fagus sylvatica with ash Fraxinus excelsior, wild cherry Prunus avium and yew Taxus baccata occur on the upper slopes, particularly near the Field Centre and Breakheart Hill. Nationally restricted plants found in these woods include fingered sedge Carex digitata, angular Solomon’s seal Polygonatum odoratum, stinking hellebore Helleborus foetidus and lily of the valley Convallaria majalis. Much of the remaining woodland has been replanted and consists of mixed conifers and broadleaved species, beech and larch Larix spp. being most frequent. Breeding birds associated with the woods include sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, tawny owl Strix aluco and green woodpecker Picus viridis. A wide range of invertebrates includes the nationally restricted scarlet tiger moth Callimorpha dominula, the silver washed fritillary butterfly Argynnis paphia and two nationally rare flies Exechiopsis magnificauda and Stratiomys potamida. A nationally scarce snail Ena montana is also present. Semi improved grassland occurs on the deeper soils or the valley floor in the western part of the site. The grassland adjacent to the Mansion is a particularly important feeding area for the bats providing a ready source of insects, especially those associated with dung. At the far eastern end of the valley there is a small area of unimproved calcicolous grassland typical of the Cotswolds. This supports colonies of marbled white Melanargia galatheaa and small blue Cupido minimus butterflies. The nationally scarce terrestrial snail Abida secale is also present. Part of this area has some scrub encroachment. A series of lakes runs down the length of the valley, the open water providing a refuge for small numbers of wintering wildfowl and breeding species such as mallard Anas platyrhynchos and little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis. Eleven species of dragonfly occur here including the nationally restricted ruddy darter Sympetrum sanguineum and the downy emerald Cordulia aenea. The site is also noted for its colonies of yellow necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis and badger Meles meles.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum LC bat vespertillonidae
mallard Anas platyrhynchos NT (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) bird-grebe podicipedidae
sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus NT (Breeding) bird-hawk falconidae
tawny owl Strix aluco NT (Breeding) bird-owl strigidae
green woodpecker Picus viridis LC (Breeding) bird-woodpecker picidae
silver-washed fritillary Argynnis paphia LC butterfly nymphalidae
small blue Cupido minimus NT butterfly lycaenidae
badger Meles meles LC carnivore mustelidae
downy emerald dragonfly Cordulia aenea LC dragonfly cordulidae
ruddy darter Sympetrum sanguineum LC dragonfly libellulidae
banded general fly Stratiomys potamida LC fly stratiomyidae
lilly of the valley Convallaria majalis LC herb liliaceae
foetid hellebore Helleborus foetidus LC herb ranunculaceae
angular Solomon's seal Polygonatum odoratum VU herb liliaceae
scarlet tiger Callimorpha dominula Not listed in GB list moth erebidae
yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis LC rodent muridae
fingered sedge Carex digitata LC sedge cyperaceae
large chrysalis snail Abida secale LC snail chondrinidae
mountain bulin snail Ena montana NT snail enidae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
wild cherry Prunus avium LC tree rosaceae
yew Taxus baccata LC tree taxaceae

Plant communities

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas