Nore Barn Woods - Ancient Woodlands Survey
An Ancient Woodlands Survey was
carried out by the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre on
20.5.04. The report is paraphrased below.
Area covered
Nore Barn Wood SU 7370 0530 and Nore Barn Wood Grassland SU 7386
0532
See the attached map to identify Areas 1, 2 and 3 which
are described below.
Site description
The site
is an area of woody scrub and grassland along the edge of salt
marsh near Emsworth. The woodland is not ancient, but there is a
fair species diversity and 8 ancient woodland indicators. The
grassland is improved and species-poor. There are a few areas of
salt marsh present along the southern edge.
Management
The site appears unmanaged. There is much public use of the
site.
Subsite descriptions
Area 1 -
WlOc Quercus robur-Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus
woodland, Hedera helix sub-community /W21 Crataegus
monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Canopy The canopy is rather short
and scrubby. The main tree species are hawthorn and oak. There
is
rare field maple, ash and willow.
Shrub layer The
understorey has frequent elder. There is occasional hawthorn,
ash, field maple, holly and blackthorn.
Field layer The
ground flora is not very rich in species or cover. There is
abundant bare ground and ivy.
There is much bramble, rough
meadow-grass, stinging-nettle, lesser celandine and cleavers.
Other species noted include ramsons, soft shield fern, stinking
iris, butcher's broom and giant
fescue.
Area 2 -
MG6a Lolium perenne-Cynosurus cristatus grassland, typical
sub-community
The sward is short and species-poor. Grasses
dominated, such as rye , meadow-grasses, cock'sfoot and red
fescue. The most frequent herbs are buttercups, selfheal, white
clover and plantains.
Area 3 - SM24
Elymus pycanthus saltmarsh
The sward is rough in places. The
main species are red fescue and sea cooch. There also some
meadow brome, creeping bent, meadow-grasses, wild carrot and sea
beet. There is some oak, hawthorn and bramble scrub.
Nore Barn Wood – Trees and shrubs
The following
Tree/shrub species were found:
Apple |
Hawthorn |
Nore Barn Wood
– Ancient Woodland Vascular Plants
The following 8
species were found out of a list of 100 species most strongly
associated with ancient woodlands:
Butcher’s Broom
Fern - polystichum
Field Maple
Field Rose
Giant Fescue
Holly
Ransom
Stinking Iris
Only the Ransom and
Polystichum are of the 36 species which could indicate long
continuity.
Nore Barn Grassland
47 species of
herbs and grasses found. None are of species which could
indicate long continuity.
Further information
The full survey can be obtained from the FONBW Secretary.