Denby Grange Colliery Ponds

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.6331, -1.5930

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Also within

West Yorkshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (3)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SE268156 — Unfavourable Recovering 0.2 2014-01-23
SE270152 — Unfavourable Recovering 18.32 2014-01-23
SE270153 — Unfavourable Recovering 0.2 2014-01-23

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Coal Mine

Description

Description This site lies in the valley of Stony Cliffe Beck, a tributary of the River Calder, close to the village of Netherton, south west of Wakefield. It contains two areas of open water and associated ancient replanted woodland and rough grassland habitats. To the immediate west is the former Denby Grange colliery, with part of the restored tip included within the boundary. The site supports the largest known breeding colony of great crested newts Triturus cristatusin West Yorkshire. Counts in recent years indicate that the site has the sixth highest recorded count of great crested newts in great Britain. Large numbers of four other amphibian species also occur, with substantial populations of smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris and palmate newt Lissotriton helveticus. Counts of frog spawn indicate a good population of common frog Rana temporaria and counts of common toad Bufo bufo run to several hundreds. The two breeding ponds with associated terrestrial habitat of mainly birch and oak dominated woodland and rough grassland contain the most outstanding known amphibian assemblage in West Yorkshire. Other Information 1. This site supports the following species covered by Council Directive 92/43/ EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora The Habitats Directive; great crested newt Triturus cristatus Annex 11, at maa. 2. great crested newts are listed on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. 3. Immediately to the north of this site is Stonycliffe Wood, a nature reserve owned and managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
common toad Bufo bufo NT amphibian buffonidae
palmate newt Lissotriton helveticus LC amphibian salamandridae
smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris LC amphibian salamandridae
common frog Rana temporaria LC amphibian ranidae
great crested newt Triturus cristatus LC amphibian salamandridae

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