Lark Wood

Lark Wood
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Example - Mezereum (Daphne mezereum)
Lark Wood is located in Gloucestershire
Lark Wood
Location within Gloucestershire
LocationGloucestershire
Grid referenceSP104262
Coordinates51°56′05″N 1°50′58″W / 51.934663°N 1.849413°W / 51.934663; -1.849413
InterestBiological
Area1.11 hectare
Notification1974
Natural England website

Lark Wood (grid reference SP104262) is a 1.11-hectare (2.7-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1974.[1][2] The site is listed in the 'Cotswold District' Local Plan 2001-2011 (on line) as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).[3]

Habitat

The site is in the north-east of the Cotswolds, and is a relatively small area of deciduous Oak woodland which is managed to coppice-with-standards. It lies on Inferior Oolite of the Jurassic limestone. Whilst the tree type is mainly Oak, there are some Beech and Sycamore. Shrubs include Hazel and Hawthorn. The ground flora is mostly Bramble, Dog's Mercury and Woodruff.[1]

Rarities

The site was designated as it supported a large population of Mezereon which is nationally rare. Other uncommon species are Spurge and Butcher's Broom.[1]

A Natural England assessment report of March 2012 states that the Mezereum cannot be located, having been declining over several years, and it is considered that the site is no longer suitable for this plant. As a consequence a recommendation has been made for de-notification.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Natural England SSSI information on the citation
  2. ^ Cotswold District Local Plan, Appendix 1, Sites of Special Scientific Interest Archived 26 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Cotswold District Local Plan, Appendix 2, Key Wildlife Sites Archived 13 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Natural England SSSI information on the Lark Wood unit

SSSI Source

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