Soudley Ponds
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO662112 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 6.22 | 2021-11-11 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone, Sandstone
Description
Area, 7.04 ha. 17.4 ac. Description The extensive woodland of Forest of Dean has been managed for timber production for many centuries, with planting and careful management maintaining a mosaic of woodland types. The central region lies on the Coal Measures and supports oak woodland with a fairly restricted lime hating calcifuge ground flora. Surrounding this acid area are the Carboniferous Limestone and Old Red Sandstone rocks which give rise to more fertile soils with a variety of woodland types over a richer ground flora. The site consists of a series of ponds situated along the course of the Soudley Brook. They represent fine examples of a wetland habitat rich in wildlife and are bordered by damp woodland. The three main ponds have relatively large expanses of open water. The marginal vegetation consists largely of reed mace Typha latifolia, sweet flag Iris pseudacorus, Acorus calamus, yellow flag water plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica, watercress Nasturtium officinale, water whorl grass Catabrosa aquatica and water dock Rumex hydrolapathum. Crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes are present and the ponds are exceptionally rich in other invertebrate species. Of the several hundred species of beetle recorded from the area, 28 are only known in Gloucestershire from Soudley Ponds. A number of these, such as the blue soldier beetle Ancistronycha abdominalis are normally confined to northern England. Another species of interest is the staphylinid beetle Dianous coerulescens found in considerable numbers near one of the dams. The ponds are one of the prime dragonfly sites in the county, 18 species having been recorded. The marginal woodland habitat is dominated by alder Alnus glutinosa with pedunculate oak Quercus robur and birch Betula pendula over coppiced hazel Corylus avellana and other shrub species. The damp field layer includes woodland species such as dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, male fern Dryopteris filix-mas and tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa with patches of wood bittercress Cardamine flexuosa and opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. The woodland is also important for its fungi.