Connah's Quay Ponds and Woodland

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.2046, -3.0655

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Clwyd County

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream, Mixed scrub, Montane scrub

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous

Landscape processes: Coastal, Fluvial, Glacial

Birds & fish recorded

Fish

SpeciesSeason
Bullhead Juvenile / resident

Description

Description Connah’s Quay Ponds and Woodlands is a composite site located on the coastal slopes of the Dee Estuary. At an altitude of between 50-80 m, it overlooks the adjacent conurbation of Connah’s Quay. The site is of special interest for its population of great crested newt Triturus cristatus, its assemblage of widespread amphibian species, and for its semi-natural broadleaved woodland. Upper Carboniferous sandstones with overlying glacial deposits shape the overall character of the landscape. During the 18th and 19th centuries scattered extraction of coal, clay and sand took place, but since then the area has predominantly been used for agriculture and more recently informal recreation. Much of the site lies within the incised Wepre Brook valley. Wepre and Broadoak woodlands support a large stand of semi-natural broadleaved woodland which is composed predominantly of oak Quercus spp. and ash Fraxinus excelsior, with sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, birch Betula pendula and alder Alnus glutinosa locally prominent. Parts of the woodland have been replanted with introduced species such as beech Fagus sylvatica and larch Larix spp. There is a distinct but usually sparse shrub layer typically composed of hazel Corylus avellana with occasional holly Ilex aquifolium, wych elm Ulmus glabra and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. The field layer is dominated by ivy Hedera helix, bramble Rubus fruticosus, honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum, broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata and male fern Dryopteris filix-mas. However, in a few areas great wood-rush Luzula sylvatica and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta are locally abundant. A combination of acidic, basic and wet conditions add to the overall diversity. The great crested newt Triturus cristatus has suffered a marked decline throughout great Britain and Continental Europe as a result of habitat loss. great Britain is considered to be one of the strongholds for this species in Western Europe. Water bodies within the site in total support one of the largest known breeding populations of the great crested newt in great Britain. The site also supports significant populations of the commoner amphibian species notably smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris, palmate newt Lissotriton helveticus, common frog Rana temporaria and common toad Bufo bufo. The majority of these water bodies were created for agricultural and nature conservation purposes. Surrounding areas of land support a mosaic of ancient and secondary broadleaved woodland, scrub, grassland, and tall ruderal vegetation. These habitats form important foraging and over wintering areas for adult and juvenile amphibians. The ecological interest of the site is enhanced by the presence of several social groups of badger Meles meles, a population of bullhead Cottus gobio within the Wepre Brook, a tributary of the River Dee; and a rich and diverse woodland fungal flora. Remarks: The great crested newt Triturus cristatus is protected under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the EC Habitats and Species Directive (as implemented in great Britain by Statutory Instrument 2716: The Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994). Gathering Grounds Wood and Llwyni Pond have been designated by Flintshire County Council as a Local Nature Reserve. Wepre Park is managed by the Flintshire County Council Countryside Service as a Country Park. Broadoak Wood is managed by the Deeside Urban Wildlife Group as a nature reserve. The great crested newt Triturus cristatus is listed in the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan as a Priority Species.

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
badger Meles meles LC carnivore mustelidae
broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata LC fern dryopteridaceae
male fern Dryopteris filix-mas LC fern dryopteridaceae
bullhead Cottus gobio Not listed in GB list fish cottidae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum LC herb caprifoliaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
great wood rush Luzula sylvatica LC rush juncaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae
ivy Hedera helix LC woody climber araliaceae

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

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