appendix 2 designated sites - lancaster

LANCASTER SITE ALLOCATION – SOUTH CARNFORTH

APPENDIX 2DESIGNATED SITES

LHS - 3 FEBRUARY 2016

LANCASTER SITE ALLOCATION – SOUTH LANCASHIRE

APPENDIX 3 BIOLOGICAL HERITAGE SITES

LHS - 3 FEBRUARY 2016

© Lancashire County Council© Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Natural England

Lancashire County Heritage Sites Biological Heritage Sites Partnership:

Biological Heritage Site

This form may contain privileged and confidential information. Permission must be obtained from Lancashire County Council and the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire before reproducing or divulging information contained on this form to any party not directly in receipt of the form from the copyright holders.

Districts: Parishes:Lancaster Carnforth

Description:

The main part of this site comprises a pasture of semi-natural neutral grassland supporting a rich diversity of grasses, sedges and herbs, indicative of traditional, low intensive management (NVC type MG5c Cynosurus cristatus - Centaurea nigra, Danthonia sub-community). Species include betony, lady's mantle, common knapweed, pignut, lady's bedstraw, meadow vetchling, rough hawkbit, common bird's-foot-trefoil, cowslip, selfheal, field wood-rush and heath-grass.

A small, ungrazed area of land to the east of the pasture contains some further species-rich neutral grassland, with most of the above species together with common spotted-orchid, meadowsweet, primrose, oxeye daisy and quaking grass.

A stream with associated vegetation, and a wooded bank provide additional interest. Despite the relatively small size of this site, a total of 91 plant species have been recorded, of which 73 are grassland species.

Site Name: Thwaite End Pasture

Site Ref: 46NE10

Grid Ref: SD492695

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:

Area (ha): 0.61 Date written/last updated:

08 September 1993

19 July 2011

Private

Other Information/Comments:

The site adjoins the Lancaster Canal Biological Heritage Site / BHS LSCLA.Lowland Meadow is a UKBAP priority habitat.

Guideline(s) for Site Selection:

Grassland (Gr3)

10 October 2014Page 1 of 1






Description:

The site comprises an area of disused sand and gravel workings situated approximately 1 km south of Carnforth town centre. The land has colonised slowly by natural regeneration and now supports a complex mosaic of habitats including species-rich grassland, wetland, open ground, and scattered trees and scrub. The occurrence of a number of species listed in the Provisional Lancashire Red Data List of Vascular Plants is notable, namely Long-stalked Yellow Sedge, Northern Marsh-orchid, Marsh Helleborine and Fragrant Orchid. Spring Sandwort, a nationally scarce species, has been recorded here in the past.

The site comprises two parcels of land linked by a grassy track. The smaller area to the north west is an old gravel pit and now supports a mosaic of trees, shrubs, wetland, grassland and herb-rich open plant communities. Species recorded here include Marsh Helleborine, Common Spotted-orchid, hybrid Marsh Orchids, Fairy Flax, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Smooth Hawk’s-beard, Oxeye Daisy, Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil, Selfheal, Rough Hawkbit, Common Knapweed, Common Centuary, Field Wood-rush, Glaucous Sedge and Yellow Oat-grass. Wetland species include Common Reed and willows (locally dominant), Marsh Horsetail, Hemp-agrimony, Grey Club-rush, Hard Rush, Sharp-flowered Rush and Water Mint.

The other parcel of land supports large areas of herb-rich grassland. Species found here include Oxeye Daisy, Fairy Flax, Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil, Selfheal, Common Knapweed, Common Spotted-orchid, Eyebright, Rough Hawkbit, Mouse-ear Hawkbit, Lady’s-mantle, Cat’s-ear, Common Twayblade and Cowslip. In addition, there is an overgrown pond at the northern end now overgrown by a mature stand of Common Reed and scattered Sallow. Other plant communities are also present.

The site also includes associated verge, hedgebank and hedgerow habitats which provide important links with neighbouring semi-natural habitats as well as being valuable habitats in themselves.

Site Name: Lundsfield Quarry Central

Site Ref: 46NE11

Grid Ref: SD497694

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 September 1993

01 May 2005

Private


46NE11 Lundsfield Quarry Central


The site boundary was modified in 01/05 to exclude an adjoining area notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 2004


Artificial Habitats (Ar1)

Habitat Mosaics (Hm1)

Flowering Plants and Ferns (Ff4a) (Ff4b)







Description:

To be completed.

Site Name: Lundsfield Quarry North

Site Ref: 46NE12

Grid Ref: SD498698

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:






Flowering Plants and Ferns (Ff2)






Districts: Parishes:Fylde Newton-with-CliftonLancaster Bolton-le-Sands, Borwick, Carnforth, Ellel, Halton-with-Aughton, Lancaster

Over Kellet, Priest Hutton, Quernmore, Slyne-with-Hest, Thurnham, WartonYealand Conyers, Yealand Redmayne

Preston Barton, Fulwood, Lea, Preston, WoodplumptonWyre Barnacre-with-Bonds, Cabus, Catterall, Claughton, Forton, Garstang, Myerscough

Nateby, Winmarleigh

Description:

The site comprises the entire length of the Lancaster Canal in Lancashire, from the Cumbria border near Burton-in-Kendal to Preston. It includes the Glasson branch and Glasson Basin. The canal is the largest and most species-rich water body in the county. It supports a very rich assemblage of plants and animals characteristic of slow-flowing water bodies. The canal is fed by Killington Lake in Cumbria and a number of feeder streams, which give rise to variations in nutrient status. This, together with a varying substratum, produces calcareous conditions further south and results in a diversity of plant and animal communities along the length of the canal.

Approximately 250 aquatic and semi-aquatic plants have been recorded along the canal. These include several species in the Provisional Lancashire Red Data List of Vascular Plants, for example, greater spearwort, thread-leaved water-crowfoot, white water-lily, horned pondweed and Linton’s pondweed. A rare hybrid horsetail (water horsetail x giant horsetail) occurs in one locality close to the county boundary. Other noteworthy species include sweet-flag, flowering-rush, fennel pondweed, arrowhead and grey club-rush. A number of Red Data List<I/> species recorded in the past (namely bogbean, soft hornwort, greater bladderwort, opposite-leaved pondweed and red pondweed) have declined and may no longer be present.

Birds such as mallard, coot and moorhen breed regularly on the canal and kingfishers use it for feeding. The section between Glasson Dock and the county boundary is notable for regularly supporting more than eight pairs of breeding mute swans. Emergent vegetation is also a valuable habitat for birds such as reed warbler and reed bunting.

The canal, with its marginal vegetation, provides a habitat for dragonflies and damselflies, including blue-tailed damselfly, common darter and brown hawker. It also acts as a valuable foraging area for bats, particularly daubentons. There is a bat roost in a canal bridge at Salwick.

The embankments and towpath support additional semi-natural habitats, including grassland, scrub, hedgerow and woodland. Three additional species in the Provisional Lancashire Red Data List of Vascular Plants are associated with these habitats, namely round-leaved dog-rose, sweet-briar and sand leek.

A 200m long bank of grassland adjacent to the towpath hedge near Stubbins (SD 509425) is also included in the site. Species present include lady’s mantle, primrose, common dog-violet, lesser celandine, lords-and-ladies and field wood-rush.

Site Name: Lancaster Canal Whole Length in Lancashire Including Glasson Branch

Site Ref: LSCLA

Grid Ref: SD527302 to SD521767

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


08 September 1993

01 January 2004


LSCLA Lancaster Canal Whole Length in Lancashire Including Glasson Branch


The site adjoins: BHS 46NE12 Lundsfields Quarry North; BHS 46NE10 Twaite End Pasture; BHS 46NE05 Crawstone Wood; BHS LSRLU River Lune; BHS 46SE02 Newton Beck Valley; BHS 45NE06 Park Coppice; BHS 45SE03 Ellel Grange Wood



Flowering Plants and Ferns (Ff3) (Ff4a)? (Ff4b)






Districts: Parishes:Lancaster Bolton-le-Sands

Description:

The site comprises predominantly semi-natural woodland situated on a hillside adjoining the east bank of the Lancaster Canal on the edge of Bolton-le-Sands. The woodland adds significantly to the biodiversity of the coastal plain and supports a number of species associated with ancient woodland including sanicle and wood anemone.

The woodland lies on boulder clay overlying limestone. Historically the site was divided into two by an old limestone block wall running north-east to south-west. The area to the west of the wall is Common Land (Twaite Brow) and was heavily grazed in the 1800s creating a parkland landscape until well into this century. Gravel was also worked by commoners. Part of the site was planted with sycamore and beech in the first quarter of this century.

The present character of the wood reflects its varied management in the past. The canopy includes a mixture of sycamore, ash, oak, wych elm and beech. Holly, hawthorn, elder, hazel and cherry occur in the shrub layer together with seedlings and saplings of the canopy trees, especially ash. Whilst much of the field layer is dominated by bramble and tufted hair-grass, it is floristically rich in places - species include dog's mercury, lesser celandine, wood avens, bluebell, ramsons, sweet violet, common dog-violet, primrose, cowslip, early-purple orchid, hart's-tongue, broad buckler-fern and male-fern. In addition, four species in the Provisional Lancashire Red Data List of Vascular Plants are present namely, sand leek (Allium scorodoprasum), spurge-laurel (Daphne laureola), traveller's-joy (Clematis vitalba) and tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum).

Site Name: Crawstone Wood

Site Ref: 46NE05

Grid Ref: SD487687

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


08 September 1993

01 December 1996

Public


The site is managed as a Community Woodland by Twaite Brow Woods Conservation Project.


Woodland and Scrub (Wd3)








Description:

To be completed.

Site Name: Lundsfield Quarry South

Site Ref: 46NE09

Grid Ref: SD498687

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:







Amphibians (Am3)

Butterflies and Moths (Le4)

Dragonflies and Damselflies (Od4)? (Od5)?






Districts: Parishes:Lancaster Bolton-le-Sands

Description:

The site comprises of a large secondary woodland to the east of Bolton-le-Sands.

The woodland canopy is generally dominated by Sycamore. Other trees present are Oak, Birch, Ash, Wych Elm, Lime, Field Maple, Yew, Sweet Chestnut, Horse-chestnut, Beech and Hornbeam. In addtion a number of exotic conifers have been introduced such as European Silver-Fir, Deodar, Japanese Red-Cedar, Monterey Cypress, Larch, Austrian Pine, Coastal Redwood, Wellingtonia, Austrian Pine and Western Red-Cedar.

The shrub layer comprises of locally dominant Bramble, with Holly, Spurge-Laurel, Spindle, Traveller's Joy, Hazel, Hawthorn, Elder and Raspberry. A number of introductions are present such as Whitebeam, Rhododendron, Cherry Laurel, Snowberry, Box, Butcher's-Broom, Spotted-Laurel and Portugal Laurel.

The ground flora includes abundant Dog's Mercury, occasional Bluebell, plus Wood Speedwell, Giant Fescue, Wild Strawberry, Herb Bennet, Ground-Ivy, Hart's-tongue, Red Campion, Lords-And-Ladies, False-Brome, Enchanter's-nightshade, Wood Sedge, Wood Sage, Wood Millet, Sweet Violet and Common Dog-violet.

Long-eared Bat species have been recorded for the site.

Site Name: Hawksheads Woodlands

Site Ref: 46NE07

Grid Ref: SD490682

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 September 1993

19 September 2013










Description:

The site comprises an area of semi-natural calcareous and neutral grassland situated alongside old railway tracks. The site supports an exceptionally rich flora with a high diversity of species, many typical of calcareous conditions. The main plant communities are NVC CG2 and MG1.

Species present include marjoram, common restharrow, kidney vetch, common knapweed, harebell, lady’s mantle, common spotted-orchid, eyebright, cat’s-ear, meadow vetchling, Autumn hawkbit, oxeye daisy, fairy flax, common bird’s-foot-trefoil, field scabious, mouse-ear hawkweed, cowslip, selfheal, carline thistle, glaucous sedge, carnation sedge, quaking grass and yellow oat-grass. Greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa), a species included in the Provisional Lancashire Red Data List of Vascular Plants, also occurs here.

Site Name: Steamtown

Site Ref: 47SE09

Grid Ref: SD493705

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


08 September 1993

01 November 1998

Private



Grassland (Gr1) (Gr3)

Flowering Plants and Ferns (Ff4b)?






Districts: Parishes:Lancaster Nether Kellet

Description:

The site comprises of a small Alder-carr woodland that has developed on the site of a former mossland to the west of Nether Kellet. Of particular note are records for the Nationally Scarce Fen Pondweed and Slender Sedge categorised as Endangered in the Provisional Lancashire Red Data List of Vascular Plants.

The woodland canopy consists of Alder, Grey Willow, Bay Willow and Birch with Guelder-rose and Eared Willow in the shrub layer. Fen Pondweed and Broad-Leaved Pondweed have been recorded from areas of open water. The ground flora recorded for this site is particularly diverse and includes Greater Tussock-Sedge, Bottle Sedge, Brown Sedge, Bogbean, Marsh Valerian, Marsh Violet, Reed Canary-grass, Branched Bur-Reed, Meadowsweet, Great Willowherb, Bittersweet, Fen Bedstraw, Sneezewort, Moschatel, Bugle, Wood Anemone, Lords-And-Ladies, Marsh-marigold, Giant Bellflower, Common Spotted-orchid, Water Horsetail, Marsh Pennywort, Common Twayblade, Ragged-Robin, Purple-Loosestrife, Water Mint, Dog's Mercury, Marsh Cinquefoil, Primrose, Creeping Willow, Purple Moor-grass, Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil, Hemp-agrimony and Devil's-bit Scabious.

Cranberry was recorded from at this site in 1968.

Site Name: Whorley's Moss

Site Ref: 56NW01

Grid Ref: SD500687

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


08 September 1993

13 December 2013


Thye site adjoins BHS46NE09 - Lundsfield Quarry South



Flowering Plants and Ferns (Ff2) (Ff3)







Description:

The site comprises three parcels of semi-natural woodland adjoining Back Lane Quarry, an active limestone quarry in Nether Kellet:

- a long narrow band of ancient semi-natural woodland dominated by ash fringing the southern edge of the quarry with outcrops of limestone pavement at the western end.

- an island of ancient semi-natural woodland lying within the quarry at SD508694.

- a small area of semi-natural woodland on limestone pavement at SD506696.

The site includes all that remains of a once much larger wood - Long Riddings Wood - which is listed in the Lancashire Inventory of Ancient Woodland (Provisional), (English Nature), 1994.

Site Name: Long Riddings Wood

Site Ref: 56NW02

Grid Ref: SD507692

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 September 1993

01 January 2000

Private




Rock (Ro1)







Description:

The site comprises a small linear field adjoining the north side of Dunald Mill Lane. It is bisected by an east?west flowing stream which disappears at the western end into the limestone cave system of Dunald Mill Hole. The field contains a mosaic of semi?natural habitats including neutral grassland, a stream and associated vegetation, trees and scrub.

Much of the grassland is species-rich and this provides the main interest of the site. Notable species include lady's mantle, common knapweed, common bird's?foot?trefoil, betony, meadowsweet, cat's?ear, meadow vetchling, oxeye daisy, field wood?rush, burnet?saxifrage, cowslip, selfheal and devil's?bit scabious.

The stream and its associated vegetation provides additional interest to this site. Species include meadowsweet, crosswort, brooklime, ragged robin, bittersweet, water?cress, fool's water?cress, marsh woundwort and greater bird's?foot?trefoil.

There are many trees around the entrance to the cave and alongside the western end of the stream - these include alder, wych elm, ash, sycamore and crack willow. Scrub is scattered but widespread with hawthorn and blackthorn being the most frequent species.

Site Name: Dunald Mill Hole

Site Ref: 56NW04

Grid Ref: SD516676

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 December 1995

01 July 1996

Private


The site is also a Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Site (RIGS).


Grassland (Gr3)







Description:

The site comprises a small area of ancient semi-natural limestone grassland associated with a linear outcrop of partially exposed limestone about 150m in length. It is situated along the upper northern slope of an otherwise improved pasture, of which it forms a part.

A rich variety of plant species occur here. Among the more frequent are sheep's fescue, dove's?foot crane's?bill, wild thyme, lady's bedstraw, mouse?ear hawkweed, common knapweed and harebell. Other notable species present include rue?leaved saxifrage, burnet saxifrage, common rock?rose, common bird's?foot?trefoil, bulbous buttercup, downy oat?grass, yellow oat?grass and quaking grass.

The fern wall?rue occurs in crevices on the crags.

Site Name: Dunald Mill Crags

Site Ref: 56NW05

Grid Ref: SD516677

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 December 1995

12 September 1996

Private



Grassland (Gr3)







Description:

The site consists of a group of fields managed as permanent pasture with hedgerows and scattered trees, in which the underlying limestone is exposed both as natural outcrops and as a result of former quarrying. A mosaic of neutral grassland with species-rich calcareous grassland occurs on and around the limestone outcrops, as well as on thin soils over unexposed limestone. Some of the rock faces support crevice vegetation and there are occasional grike-like features.

Grassland species include lady's bedstraw, autumn hawkbit, rough hawkbit, fairy flax, common bird's-foot-trefoil, mouse-ear hawkweed, wild thyme, lady's mantle, oxeye daisy, harebell, eyebright, long-stalked crane's-bill, field wood-rush, glaucous sedge, spring sedge, yellow oat-grass and quaking grass. The ferns wall-rue and maidenhair spleenwort occur on rock faces. Fern-grass is common in the central rocky area.

Site Name: Long Dales Lane Fields

Site Ref: 56NW06

Grid Ref: SD511684

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 September 1993

01 February 1996

Private


Lowland calcareous (limestone) grassland is a priority habitat in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.


Grassland (Gr3)







Description:

The site comprises a small area of pasture on limestone outcrops situated immediately north of

The Hawthorns caravan site.Whilst the grassland on deeper soils has been improved, species-rich, semi-natural limestone grassland is present on thinner soils around and overlying rock outcrops. Plants such as common rock-rose, wild thyme, rue-leaved saxifrage and maidenhair spleenwort occur on exposed rock.

Limestone grassland species include common bird's-foot-trefoil, lady's bedstraw, bulbous buttercup, rough hawkbit, mouse-ear hawkweed, fairy flax, common knapweed, pignut, cowslip, field wood-rush, glaucous sedge, downy oat-grass and quaking grass.

Site Name: Hawthorns Rocks

Site Ref: 56NW07

Grid Ref: SD513686

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 September 1993

01 January 2000

Private



Grassland (Gr3)






Districts: Parishes:Lancaster Over Kellet

Description:

The site comprises a small semi-natural woodland on limestone situated on the eastern side of High Roads Quarry. It is listed in the Lancashire Inventory of Ancient Woodland (Provisional), English Nature 1994. Limestone pavement occurs extensively in the wood.

The wood contains ash, wych elm, sycamore, small-leaved lime and hawthorn. The ground flora includes dog's mercury, bluebell, herb-Robert, bramble, common nettle, wood avens, primrose, wild strawberry, false brome and hart's-tongue fern.

Site Name: Helks Wood

Site Ref: 56NW08

Grid Ref: SD517689

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 September 1993

01 January 2000

Private




Rock (Ro1)







Description:

The site comprises ancient semi-natural woodland on limestone bordering the north side of Leaper's Wood Quarry. It is listed in the Lancashire Inventory of Ancient Woodland (Provisional), English Nature, 1994.

The canopy of most of the woodland is composed of sycamore, ash, oak, wych elm and birch, with hawthorn, holly, hazel and wych elm in the understorey. Most of Leaper's Wood lies on limestone pavement and the site supports a rich ground flora - species include dog's mercury, bramble, wood avens, herb-Robert, ivy, bluebell, woodruff, honeysuckle, wood-sorrel, hedge woundwort, enchanter's nightshade, yellow pimpernel, male-fern, hart's-tongue, polypody, maidenhair spleenwort and tufted hair-grass.

The site includes an area of limestone pavement on the west side of the quarry access road which has been planted with a mixture of ash, sycamore and larch.

Site Name: Leaper's Wood, Bowman Stout Wood and Slack's Wood

Site Ref: 56NW09

Grid Ref: SD513696

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:

Area (ha): 17.04 Date written/last updated: 01 January 1997

Private




Rock (Ro1)







Description:

The site comprises a semi-natural woodland on limestone situated on the edge of Leapers Wood Quarry and High Roads Quarry. It is listed in the Lancashire Inventory of Ancient Woodland (Provisional), (English Nature), 1994.

The canopy contains ash, sycamore, wych elm, beech, oak and birch over an understorey of hawthorn, hazel, rowan and holly. The ground flora includes dog's mercury, bluebell, primrose, wood avens, sanicle, herb-Robert, barren strawberry, ivy, bramble, raspberry, tufted hair-grass, false brome, wood sedge, male-fern and hart's-tongue fern.

Site Name: Kit Bill Wood

Site Ref: 56NW10

Grid Ref: SD518692

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 September 1993

01 January 2000

Private










Description:

The site comprises a small area of limestone pavement and crags situated in a field adjoining Cock’s Wood, approximately 0.5 km south of Over Kellet. There are two sets of rock outcrops – one along the north east boundary of the site and the other at right angles to it.

The field is managed as pasture and most of the grassland is improved. However, thin soils overlying the limestone outcrops still support a variety of plants. These include fairy flax, harebell, Autumn hawkbit, mouse-ear hawkweed, selfheal, long-stalked crane’s-bill, rue-leaved saxifrage and yellow oat-grass.

The limestone outcrop along the edge of Cock’s Wood is partially shaded and in places supports woodland plants such as dog’s mercury, ramsons, herb-Robert, wood avens, yellow pimpernel, common dog-violet and foxglove. In addition, some trees and shrubs such as ash, wych elm, holly, hawthorn, rowan and elder grow from crevices along the outcrop face.

Site Name: Limestone Pavement and Crags, South of Cock's Wood

Site Ref: 56NW13

Grid Ref: SD521692

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 September 1993

01 March 2001

Private


The site adjoins Cock’s Wood and Helks Wood Farm Pasture Biological Heritage Sites (BHS 56NW14 and 56NW18).


Grassland (Gr3)

Rock (Ro1)







Description:

The site comprises a semi-natural woodland situated on a small limestone hill adjoining Nether Kellet Road, just to the south of St. Cuthbert’s Church, Over Kellet. The wood supports a rich herb layer including many species indicative of ancient woodland.

The canopy is dominated by sycamore with frequent ash and wych elm and occasional birch, wild cherry, larch and rowan over an understorey of hazel, holly, hawthorn, elder, goat and grey willow.

The ground flora includes abundant dog’s mercury with locally frequent ramsons, bluebell, ivy, bramble, raspberry and common nettle. Other species include hairy St John’s-wort, wood speedwell, primrose, enchanter’s nightshade, wood avens, herb-Robert, hedge woundwort, red campion, barren strawberry, Lord’s-and-Ladies, brooklime, bugle, common figwort, nipplewort, garlic mustard, bracken, broad buckler-fern, male-fern, scaly male-fern, lady-fern, polypody, wood-sedge, wood melick, giant fescue, hairy-brome and false brome.

Much of the underlying limestone is masked by thick deposits of till and/or loess but outcrops occur around the edges of the wood and occasionally within.

Site Name: Cock's Wood

Site Ref: 56NW14

Grid Ref: SD522694

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 December 1995

01 March 2001

Private


The site adjoins Limestone Pavement and Crags South of Cock’s Wood Biological Heritage Site (BHS 56NW13).









Description:

The site comprises a field of permanent pasture lying on limestone approximately 1 km south of Over Kellet.

Species-rich limestone grassland occurs on shallow soils and around scattered rock outcrops particularly in the centre of the field and in the south west corner. Grassland species include harebell, Lady’s bedstraw, common bird’s-foot-trefoil, selfheal, milkwort, mouse-ear hawkweed, wild thyme, salad burnet, herb-Robert, yarrow, field wood-rush and quaking grass. Elsewhere, where soils are deeper, the grassland is semi-improved.

The site also includes a small area of pasture with limestone crags situated immediately behind Helks Wood Farm buildings. Species found here include harebell, rough hawkbit, mouse-ear hawkweed, selfheal, Lady’s bedstraw and herb-Robert. Ferns such as wall-rue and maidenhair spleenwort occur in rock crevices.

North east of these crags, across a track, is a disused lime kiln around which is a small area of species-rich grassland. Species present here include selfheal, common bird’s-foot trefoil, Lady’s mantle, meadow vetchling, yarrow, herb-Robert and field woodrush.

Site Name: Helks Wood Farm Pasture

Site Ref: 56NW18

Grid Ref: SD519689

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 January 2001

01 March 2001

Private


The site adjoins three Biological Heritage Sites, namely Helks Wood (BHS 56NW08), Kit Bill Wood (BHS 56NW10) and Limestone Pavement and Crags South of Cock’s Wood (BHS 56NW13).


Grassland (Gr3)






Districts: Parishes:Lancaster Carnforth, Warton

Description:

The site comprises slag heaps from the former Carnforth Ironworks and similar habitat alongside the adjoining railway. The basic lime rich slag has colonised naturally since the works closed in 1929 and now supports a diversity of plants and animals.

Areas of species-rich grassland are present on banks and ridges and in glades amidst stands of dense scrub and trees - mainly willow, hawthorn, ash and birch. There is also a central area of open habitat above a cliff of slag and limestone blocks supporting a herb-rich community. Species present on the site include hemp-agrimony, hogweed, oxeye daisy, tufted vetch, black bryony, common knapweed, meadow vetchling, common bird's-foot-trefoil, harebell, rough hawkbit, mouse-ear hawkweed, eyebright, fairy flax, hop trefoil, great burnet, wild carrot, pale toadflax, blue fleabane, whorled clary, wood sage, male-fern and wall-rue. In addition, two plants included in the Provisional Lancashire Red Data List of Vascular Plants occur here, namely basil thyme and greater knapweed.

The site also supports a variety of invertebrates. Of particular note in the presence of the nationally rare wall mason bee, Osmia parietina, which feeds on common bird's-foot-trefoil in sheltered sunny glades amongst the slag banks. This bee is currently known to occur at only three locations in Lancashire and only eight in Britain.

Three species of grasshopper also occur on the site, namely brown grasshopper, mottled grasshopper and common ground-hopper.

Carnforth Ironworks is one of only two similar sites in Lancashire and is an important example of this kind of artificial habitat.

Site Name: Carnforth Ironworks

Site Ref: 57SW02

Grid Ref: SD500711

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


01 September 1993

01 June 2001

Private


57SW02 Carnforth Ironworks


The wall mason bee, Osmia parietina, is a priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.




Grasshoppers and Crickets (Or5)?

Other Invertebrates (In1)







Description:

The site comprises of species-rich roadside verges on either side of the Kellet Road bridge across the M6 to the east of Carnforth. Of particular note is the presence of Common Broomrape, a localised plant which is categorised as Vulnerable in the Provisional Lancashire Red Data List of Vascular Plants.

In the grassland communities Common Spotted-orchid is abundant. Other species present include Bee Orchid, Common Twayblade, Blue Fleabane, Common Centaury, Eyebright, Fairy Flax, Hedge Bedstraw, Yellow-Rattle, Rough Hawkbit, Lesser Hawkbit, Mouse-Ear-Hawkweed, Glaucous Sedge, Lady's-Mantle, Crosswort, Common Bird's-foot-trefoil, Cat's-Ear, Meadow Vetchling, Autumnal Hawkbit, Oxeye Daisy, Selfheal, Common Knapweed, Barren Strawberry, Primrose and Yellow Oat-Grass. There is some scrub development comprising of Sycamore, Hawthorn, Ash, Bramble, Blackthorn, Dog Rose and Oak.

Site Name: Kellet Road Verges

Site Ref: 57SW01

Grid Ref: SD507701

Approved:

Owner/Occupier:


08 September 1993

13 December 2013






appendix 2 designated sites - lancaster

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