| Staff member responsible: |
Jo Dear |
| Unit Id: |
1029295 |
| Unit area (ha): |
9.4977 |
| Unit Status: |
Live |
Gridref: |
TR 042 184 |
| Main habitat: |
EARTH HERITAGE |
| Date of last site check: |
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Checked by: |
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| Comment: |
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| Condition and Comments (click for history): |
Unfavourable - Recovering |
Assessed by: |
PETER GREENSLADE |
| Last assessed: |
19/08/2009 |
Last assessment field visit: |
19/08/2009 |
| ISA Survey: |
View Surveys |
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Last CSM assessment: |
19/08/2009 |
| Estimated year unit will go Favourable: |
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Confidence in estimate: |
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| Comment: |
This unit is mostly made up by improved, species-poor grassland with remnants of unimproved neutral grassland, particularly in the eastern corner of this pasture. The main interest features are the buried and the surface geomorphology, the shingle ridge and associated invertebrates. The pastures are important in that they provide nectar sources when the adjoining shingle vegetation dries up in the summer.
The fossil geomorphology is generally intact with clear distinction between the ridges and intervening hollows.
The vegetation on the shingle ridge is typical of this part of the site. It includes common bent and sweet vernal grass with wood sage, mouse-ear hawkweed, wild carrot, cat?s ear, autumnal hawkbit, yarrow and sea campion.
The current grazing practices are not conducive to providing nectar sources for the invertebrate assemblage under the intensive grazing regime. Discussions are underway to reduce the grazing pressure to allow the legumes present in the pastures to flower and increase over time.
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| Number of adverse condition reasons: |
0 |