Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

The grassland is dominated in places by meadow barley, which may be a species of historic origin. Meadow crane's-bill is also found, and there are signs of rabbit grazing. The abundance of bumblebees is in keeping with the good invertebrate quality of the site, and the spectacular wasp spider is found here.Galingale and reedmace grow in a few damper areas. The remains of old hedgerows indicate past agricultural use; the 1839 tithe map labels the site as arable fields. The scrub and trees may represent outgrown and fragmented hedgerows reflecting the site's arable past, and form a patchwork in and around the grassland. The stumps of what must have been impressive elm trees can be found beneath the scrub, reminding visitors of the terrible toll of Dutch elm disease in the not too distant past.Alongside the railway line there is a strip of woodland that continues past houses as the line curves northwards to Motspur Park station. The woodland again contains much elm scrub but also oak, ash, birch, elder, hawthorn and blackthorn. Brambles and ivy sprawl over the woodland floor, which is dotted with lesser celandine, herb Robert, cow parsley and lords-and-ladies. There are several large fallen tree trunks in the wood, providing a home for myriad insects and fungi.

Facilities

No information available