Parwich Moor

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.1182, -1.7407

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SK174579 Unfavourable Declining 15.87 2013-11-12

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Area, 15.45 ha. 38.2 ac. Description A small area of relict limestone heath consisting of a series of hummocks and hollows. The hummocks are of particular interest because of the evidence of sorting and rearrangement by frost and wind action. The hummocks are colonised by heather Calluna vulgaris and bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus with mat grass Nardus stricta and heath bedstraw Galium saxatile. These occur on top of a limestone substrate so that between the hummocks there is a typical damp, limestone grassland flora. Mosses and lichens on the hummocks indicate that this type of limestone heathland has not been subject to regular burning unlike many of the other remnant limestone heaths of the Peak District. This type of vegetation was once extensive in the Peak District but now is only found at this and one other site.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
mat grass Nardus stricta LC grass poaceae
heath bedstraw Galium saxatile LC herb rubiaceae
billberry Vaccinium myrtillus LC shrub ericaceae
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae