Old Pulford Brook Meadows

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.1164, -2.8920

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Also within

Cheshire CountyClwyd County

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Alluvium, Sandstone

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Description This site is of special interest for its unimproved lowland grassland vegetation. The site is located close to the boundary with England, in the flood plain of the River Dee, approximately 3 km east of Pulford village. It comprises two enclosures on flat ground each bounded by ditches, at an altitude of about 5 m. The soils are clay river alluvium overlying Lower Mottled Sandstone. The site is notable for its unimproved flood-meadow vegetation. Over a long period of time, agricultural management has consisted of a mid-summer hay crop followed by cattle grazing in the autumn. This, coupled with winter flooding has resulted in a rich, alluvial flora. The semi-natural vegetation communities found are nationally uncommon and are particularly rare in Wales. The most prominent grass species are Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus, sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, crested dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus and meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis with a range of associated forbs including yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis, great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and pepper-saxifrage Silaum silaus. Several uncommon species have been found including common meadow-rue Thalictrum flavum, slender spike-rush Eleocharis uniglumis, smooth brome Bromus racemosus and mousetail Myosurus minimus.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis LC grass poaceae
sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum LC grass poaceae
smooth brome Bromus racemosus LC grass poaceae
crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus LC grass poaceae
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus LC grass poaceae
meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria LC herb rosaceae
mousetail Myosurus minimus VU herb ranunculaceae
yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor DD herb orobanchaceae
great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis LC herb rosaceae
greater hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis LC herb asteraceae
pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus EN herb saxifragaceae
common meadow rue Thalictrum flavum LC herb ranunculaceae
slender spike rush Eleocharis uniglumis LC rush juncaceae

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