Hay-a-Park

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.0175, -1.4486

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SE362580 Unfavourable Declining 44.87 2012-03-06

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
common sandpiper Breeding
common sandpiper Passage
common tern Breeding
common tern Passage
goosander Wintering
grasshopper warbler Breeding
grasshopper warbler Passage
great crested grebe Breeding
great crested grebe Passage
greylag goose Breeding
greylag goose Passage
greylag goose Wintering
mallard Breeding
mallard Passage
mallard Wintering
oystercatcher Breeding
oystercatcher Passage
reed warbler Breeding
reed warbler Passage
ringed plover Breeding
ringed plover Passage
tufted duck Breeding
tufted duck Passage
wigeon Breeding
wigeon Passage
wigeon Wintering

Description

Description The site known as Hay a Park is of interest for its breeding birds and wintering wildfowl. The site lies immediately to the east of the urban edge of Knaresborough and comprises a large lake of 24 hectares and three small ponds to the south, with associated areas of reedbed, scrub, mature hedgerow and grassland. With the exception of some initial tree planting and grazing of the grassland these habitats have developed naturally from gravel workings largely undisturbed since the completion of extraction in the early 1970s. The site is of national importance for wintering goosander with numbers regularly exceeding 150 birds and a peak count recorded of 315 birds. These birds are thought to originate from the rivers Wharfe and Nidd and are probably a separate population to that found using Eccup Reservoir in West Yorkshire. The site is also of local importance for other wildfowl including greylag goose, wigeon, mallard and coot. The open grassland adjacent to the lake is important for feeding wigeon and geese and regularly supports large numbers of migrating oystercatcher during the spring. Breeding birds include great crested grebe, mallard, tufted duck, ringed plover and common sandpiper, with kingfisher and common tern using the area for feeding. The small ponds support sedge and grasshopper warbler and also hold one of the most northerly inland breeding populations of reed warbler in Britain. Other Information This is a new site.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites
Latin name
search with Google
IUCN / Red List Type Family
mallard Anas platyrhynchos NT (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
tufted duck Aythya fuligula LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
wigeon Mareca penelope LC (NonBreeding), NT (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
goosander Mergus merganser LC (NonBreeding) bird-duck anatidae
coot Fulica atra NT (NonBreeding), NT (Breeding) bird-gallinule rallidae
greylag goose Anser anser LC (NonBreeding) bird-goose anatidae
great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus LC (NonBreeding), VU (Breeding) bird-grebe podicipedidae
kingfisher Alcedo atthis LC (Breeding) bird-kingfisher alcedinidae
common tern Sterna hirundo VU (Breeding) bird-tern laridae
common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos VU (Breeding) bird-wader scolopacidae
ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula VU (NonBreeding) bird-wader charadriidae
oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus LC (Breeding) bird-wader haematopodidae
reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus LC (Breeding) bird-warbler acrocephalidae
grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia LC (Breeding) bird-warbler locustellidae

Plant communities

S4 — Lowland fen, Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Reedbed

Phragmites australis swamp and reed-beds

Salix cinerea, Atriplex portulacoides, Solanum dulcamara, Bolboschoenus maritimus, Carex acuta, Carex lasiocarpa, Carex otrubae, Carex panicea, Carex pseudocyperus, Carex riparia, Carex rostrata, Cladium mariscus, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus effusus, Juncus gerardii, Juncus maritimus, Juncus subnodulosus, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Leptodictyum riparium, Sphagnum fallax, Suaeda maritima, Angelica sylvestris, Apium graveolens, Berula erecta, Cicuta virosa, Oenanthe crocata, Oenanthe fistulosa, Oenanthe lachenalii, Sium latifolium, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Sonchus arvensis, Tripleurospermum maritimum, Myosotis laxa, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Cochlearia anglica, Cochlearia officinalis, Silene flos-cuculi, Atriplex hastata, Atriplex littoralis, Salicornia dolichostachya, Calystegia sepium, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Iris pseudacorus, Triglochin maritimum, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Lemna minor, Utricularia intermedia, Utricularia minor, Lythrum salicaria, Menyanthes trifoliata, Nymphaea alba, Epilobium hirsutum, Callitriche stagnalis, Hippuris vulgaris, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium vulgare, Rumex crispus, Rumex hydrolapathum, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Glaux maritima, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus lingua, Ranunculus sceleratus, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Urtica dioica, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia atherica, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Glyceria fluitans, Glyceria maxima, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Puccinellia maritima, Typha angustifolia, Typha latifolia, Chara subspinosa

S25 — Lowland fen, Reedbed

Phragmites australis-Eupatorium cannabinum tall-herb fen

Salix cinerea, Alnus glutinosa, Myrica gale, Solanum dulcamara, Carex acuta, Carex elata, Carex paniculata, Carex riparia, Cladium mariscus, Juncus subnodulosus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Angelica sylvestris, Berula erecta, Oenanthe lachenalii, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Myosotis scorpioides, Valeriana dioica, Valeriana officinalis, Silene flos-cuculi, Calystegia sepium, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus pedunculatus, Vicia cracca, Iris pseudacorus, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Lythrum salicaria, Menyanthes trifoliata, Epilobium hirsutum, Pedicularis palustris, Rumex crispus, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Scrophularia auriculata, Scutellaria galericulata, Urtica dioica, Arrhenatherum elatius, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Thelypteris palustris, Athyrium filix-femina, Typha angustifolia

S26 — Lowland fen, Reedbed

Phragmites australis-Urtica dioica tall-herb fen

Solanum dulcamara, Carex acuta, Carex otrubae, Carex riparia, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Sparganium erectum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Apium nodiflorum, Heracleum sphondylium, Oenanthe crocata, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Sonchus arvensis, Myosotis scorpioides, Valeriana officinalis, Silene dioica, Silene flos-cuculi, Calystegia sepium, Dipsacus fullonum, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus pedunculatus, Vicia cracca, Iris pseudacorus, Glechoma hederacea, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Stachys palustris, Lythrum salicaria, Epilobium hirsutum, Rumex crispus, Rumex hydrolapathum, Lysimachia vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Scutellaria galericulata, Urtica dioica, Agrostis stolonifera, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Glyceria maxima, Holcus lanatus, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Typha latifolia

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

W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub

Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Hedera helix, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Achillea millefolium, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Jasione montana, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Teucrium scorodonia, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Pteridium aquilinum