Brampford Speke

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.7779, -3.5186

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Also within

Devon County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (4)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SX928984 — Favourable 6.96 2011-10-26
SX930985 — Favourable 40.49 2011-10-26
SX930991 — Favourable 24.04 2011-10-26
SX932988 — Favourable 11.35 2011-10-26

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Floodplain

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Brampford Speke SSSI Description Geological Conservation Review Site. This reach of the River Exe is important in illustrating two types of floodplain development, principally through small-scale, high-frequency discharge events. The floodplain had developed through lateral meander movement and overbank sedimentation in abandoned palaeochannels. Detailed study of one complex meander bend has shown that maximum erosion occurred during discharge events with a recurrence interval of 2.5 years; evidence for large scale flood erosion is absent. This site therefore provides an important contrast with others such as the Lyn where high magnitude, low-frequency events have left a significant geomorphological impact. In summary this site is important because it helps illustrate the processes which form contemporary flood plains along Britain’s rivers.

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