Magdalen Grove
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP519065 | — | Favourable | 0.43 | 2024-04-04 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Quaternary
Landscape processes: Glacial
Description
Description Fossiliferous sediments underlying the Summertown Radley Terrace of the Upper Thames have been exploited by shallow workings in the north western corner of Magdalen Grove. These form part of an important and controversial stratigraphy recognised in the deposits of this terrace, which has been claimed to provide evidence for the existence of a formerly unrecognised inter glacial stage in the British Late Middle Pleistocene. The sediments at Magdalen Grove are richly fossiliferous, yielding mammal bones, mollusca and pollen. Although probably representing the tributary Cherwell, they have been correlated with deposits at Stanton Harcourt, in the valley of the main river. The fossil assemblage from the Eynsham Gravel indicates that it was deposited during the penultimate interglacial correlated with Oxygen Isotope Stage 7 of the 'deep sea' record. This interglacial is a recently identified episode midway between the Hoxnian and Ipswichian Interglacials of the traditional Pleistocene record.
Plant communities
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus 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
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis 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
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula 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
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis 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