South Littleton Nature Reserve (SLNR)
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Station Road, South Littleton Grid reference SP077 458 Purchased January 2018 Access: Public Right of Way in north-east corner and walking route around site perimeter. |
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SLNR apple tree and recently cut Bramble
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This site comprises approximately four acres of grassland and scrub lying adjacent to the Littleton Brook. The site has been used for growing cereal crops in the past and then grazed and more recently cut regularly as amenity grassland. It was abandoned around 2007 resulting in rapid scrub development, with Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Dog Rose being dominant and many young Ash trees and self-set apple and pear trees scattered throughout. Bramble is dominant in patches with occasional Elders and Field Maples. About half of the site is still relatively open but the grassland has been invaded by Rosebay Willowherb which dominates the centre of the site and the south west corner has patches of Pendulous Sedge.
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Coarse grasses form tussocks which provide areas for invertebrates to live and ant hills have established due to the lack of cutting with machinery. Some of the larger patches of Bramble have been removed by cutting and mowing to create areas of grassland.Scrubland and tussock grasses form habitat which is important for many invertebrates, birds and mammals. Fox, Badger and Muntjac Deer are all known to visit the site occasionally and Field Voles and Wood Mice are common here. The site is home to birds such as Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Song Thrush in the summer, whilst Redwings and Fieldfares search for berries and fruit in the winter. Grass Snakes have been seen but are elusive. Butterflies are abundant and include Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Marbled White. The site also provides perfect habitat for grasshoppers and bush-crickets which are numerous in the summer months.
Chiffchaff
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Marbled White
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Roesel's Bush-cricket
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To the north east is an area of wet woodland and a small part of this lies within the site. This area along with the east section floods from the Littleton Brook on occasion. Large Crack Willow trees grow along the brook and some have started living up to their name; their large limbs crack and touch the ground where they take root.
Part of the site will be returned to grassland and grazed if appropriate and the scrub will be managed sensitively on rotation to retain the wildlife habitat. As the grassland wildflowers return, butterflies and bumblebees will benefit from this nectar source. The open areas already attract hunting Kestrels and hopefully owls will return to the area as parts of the site are opened up.
Kestrel at South Littleton Nature Reserve
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| slnr_manplan_2018_2022.pdf |
