Stoney Middleton Dale

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.2890, -1.6872

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Derbyshire County PEAK DISTRICT National Park

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (10) Unfavourable Recovering (1) Unfavourable Declining (1) Unfavourable No Change (3)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SK198769 — Favourable 1.88 2012-03-19
SK198770 — Favourable 1.88 2012-03-19
SK200771 — Favourable 1.88 2012-03-19
SK203760 — Unfavourable Recovering 1.54 2011-09-19
SK209769 — Favourable 1.88 2012-03-19
SK212760 — Favourable 53.78 2012-03-19
SK217760 — Favourable 3.15 2011-07-27
SK218760 — Unfavourable Declining 0.82 2011-07-28
SK219757 — Favourable 53.78 2012-03-19
SK219758 — Unfavourable No Change 0.72 2011-07-26
SK219759 — Unfavourable No Change 0.72 2011-07-26
SK221758 — Favourable 53.78 2012-03-19
SK221759 — Unfavourable No Change 5.41 2011-07-26
SK222757 — Favourable 2.14 2011-07-26
SK224757 — Favourable 1.16 2011-07-26

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.

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream, Mixed scrub, Montane scrub

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Cave / Cavern, Gorge / Ravine, Rock Outcrop · Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Carboniferous, Quaternary · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone

Landscape processes: Coastal, Fluvial, Karst

Description

Area, 68.8 ha. 170.0 ac. Description The Carboniferous Limestone massif of the Peak District is one of the most important in Britain, lying in latitude and altitude between the Mendips and the Craven area of Yorkshire. The limestone is cut by valleys, 'the dales', which contain areas of high geological interest and support a wide range of wildlife habitats, particularly woodland, scrub and grassland. Stoney Middleton Dale lies on the north eastern margin of the limestone outcrop, south of the village of Eyam. The northern side of this deep limestone gorge contains some of the most important caves in the Peak District, together with four associated swallets. Parts of the site are also of biological interest, particularly the areas of ancient and semi natural woodland, cliff communities and unimproved limestone grassland. Geological More than 3000 metres of caves are known beneath the northern side of Stoney Middleton Dale and within this area, four distinct levels of cave development have been identified. As the River Derwent cut down its bed, thereby lowering the regional water table, caves were developed at progressively lower levels. The individual cave levels in this site show a close relationship to the limestone geology, in that passages often follow folds in the rock or mineral veins and are often floored with impermeable clay horizons which limit the downward movement of water. The associated swallets now supply water to the cave system taking the surface water from the adjoining grit stone uplands eastwards through the cave system. The cave sediments here are of great importance in describing climate during the Pleistocene period and the development of local erosion processes. These caves are the best in Derbyshire for demonstrating the relation of cave systems to major river down cutting phases and rock structures. Biological Woodland occupies the lower valley slopes and the adjoining gorges of The Delf and Eyam Dale. Most of the woodland is classified as ancient and consists of a typical limestone dale semi natural ash Fraxinus excelsior, wych elm Ulmus glabra community. Where elm has died, there is mainly sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus and ash regeneration together with some elm recovering through suckering. In the main dale where old hazel Corylus avellana coppice remains, the ground flora is dominated by ivy Hedera helix and dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis. A greater range of species is found in The Delf, including bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and early dog violet Viola reichenbachiana. Additional interest here is provided by a small re entrant stream with opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and ramsons Allium ursinum. Scattered through the wood are areas of buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica, a species considered to be an indicator of ancient woodland. The limestone crags are of particular interest with a number of local species such as rock whitebeam Sorbus rupicola, yew Taxus baccata, field maple Acer campestre and mountain currant Ribes alpinum. Towards the top of the main daleside, woodland gives way to a scrub community of dogwood Cornus sanguinea; a species now uncommon in Derbyshire daleside woodlands. In Eyam Dale, this is replaced by hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and dog rose Rosa canina over a diverse ground flora including moschatel Adoxa moschatellina and wood avens Geum urbanum. The limestone cliffs and older quarry faces are not subject to grazing and support species rich grassland communities with a number of nationally or locally uncommon species such as Nottingham catchfly Silene nutans, spring cinquefoil Potentilla tabernaemontani, limestone bedstraw Galium sterneri and greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa. Whereas most of the plateau land has been agriculturally improved, some small areas of herb rich pasture remain. These grasslands are of the yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens, quaking grass Briza media, crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus type and contain a wide range of limestone grassland species such as common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, cowslip Primula veris and mossy saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides. Within the site important communities of mosses and liverworts occur in the swallets on the north western edge. Of particular note are three nationally rare species; the moss Platydictya jungermannioides and the liverworts Cololejeunea rossettiana and Pedinophyllum interruptum.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus LC grass poaceae
yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens LC grass poaceae
moschatel Adoxa moschatellina LC herb adoxaceae
ramson Allium ursinum LC herb liliaceae
greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa LC herb asteraceae
opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium LC herb saxifragaceae
limestone bedstraw Galium sterneri LC herb rubiaceae
herb bennet Geum urbanum LC herb rosaceae
rock roses Helianthemum nummularium VU herb cistaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
spring cinquefoil Potentilla tabernaemontani Not listed in GB list herb rosaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
alpine currant Ribes alpinum LC herb grossulariaceae
dog-rose Rosa canina LC herb rosaceae
mossy saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides NT herb saxifragaceae
Nottingham catchfly Silene nutans VU herb carophyllaceae
early dog violet Viola reichenbachiana LC herb violaceae
Cololejeunea rossettiana LC moss lejeuneaceae
Platydictya jungermannioides LC moss plagiotheciaceae
dogwood Cornus sanguinea LC shrub cornaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica LC shrub rhamnaceae
field maple Acer campestre LC tree aceraceae
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
rock whitebeam Sorbus rupicola LC tree rosaceae
yew Taxus baccata LC tree taxaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae
ivy Hedera helix LC woody climber araliaceae

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

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