| 1001 |
Cumbria |
1 |
Barrow-in-Furness |
Barrow in Furness |
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|
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| 1002 |
Cumbria |
2 |
Barrow-in-Furness |
Barrow in Furness |
Noted during the site visit were: black-headed gull, curlew, meadow pipit, meadow brown butterfly, small tortiseshell, painted lady, 6-spot ladybird.
The mudflats and saltmarshes of the South Walney and Piel Channel Flats are important for a number of wintering wildfowl and waders, plus a number of colonial breeding birds. However, note that the common comprises only a minor part of the whole extent of the SSSI.
The SSSI as a whole has a Grade B entry in the Invertebrate Site Register. These are sites of regional importance for invertebrate conservation, equivalent to SSSI status on grounds of invertebrate interest. Only the moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) have been surveyed to any extent on this site. A good assemblage of coastal species have been reported including the sand dart {\it Agrotis ripae}, the coast dart {\it Euoxa cursoria} and the Portland Moth {\it Ochropleura praecox}. All of these are nationally notable species. The nationally notable dumbledor beetle {\it Geotrupes vernalis} has also been found. |
The common forms the greater element in a number of commons situated around the periphery of the southern section of Walney Island. The site is divided into two sections: the larger northern portion, comprising the Tummer Hill Marsh, while the southern portion is a narrow strip runnung along the coast southwards from near the hamlet of Biggar. Most of the common lies within the boundary of the South Walney and Piel Channel Flats SSSI (also listed in "A Nature Conservation Review" Ed. D.A. Ratcliffe, 1977) and now a proposed Special Area of Conservation (pSAC) under the EC Habitats Directive.
The area has been covered by the Cumbria Phase 1 survey, with target notes dating between the years 1978-86. There is also information from the "Saltmarsh Review", following the usual format of sketch maps approximately to scale, annotated with detailed target notes. A visit was also made to the site during the present survey to make some more up to date target notes.
The SSSI is important botanically for an extensive area of ungrazed saltmarsh, being described as a "scarce" habitat in NW England. The Tummer Hill Marsh (1) represents the best example of this habitat within the SSSI, also being noted as the largest ungrazed saltmarsh in South Cumbria. There is a characteristic zonation with numerous pools and creeks dissecting the surface of the marsh.
The lower marsh is dominated by {\it Spartina anglica} which has colonised large areas of the mudflats. The mid-marsh is dominated by {\it Halimione portulacoides}, along with {\it Carex extensa, Armeria maritima, Juncus gerardii, Cochlearia maritima, Puccinellia maritima, Sueda maritima} and {\it Aster tripolium}. {\it C. extensa} is a plant of maritime situations and is frequent only around Morecambe Bay and Walney Island in Cumbria (source: Halliday, 1997). Both {\it Limonium humile} and {\it L. vulgare} are abundant. The former species is "nationally scarce", occurring in between 16 - 100 ten km squares of the Ordnance Survey Grid (JNCC, 1994). Drier areas are dominated by {\it Festuca rubra}. There are vegetated salt pans with {\it Limonium humile, Salicornia europaea} and {\it Sueda maritima}. The creeks are steep sided and eroding, except where held in place by {\it S. anglica} and {\it H. portulacoides}.
Recorded by Geoffrey Halliday at GR SD 1840 6775: {\it Trifolium fragiferum} and {\it Seriphidium maritima}. The former species is, with a single exception, confined to only a few coastal sites on Walney Island, while the latter is described as "very rare and apparently declining" (in the county) and confined only to muddy tidal creeks on the landward side of Walney Island and at Eskmeals (source: Halliday, 1997). {\it Oenanthe lachenalii}, a plant of salt and brackish marshes etc., recorded at at SD 188 677.
The upper marsh is characterised by {\it Elytrigia atherica, Juncus maritimus} and some {\it Phragmites australis}. Other associates of the upper marsh include {\it Sonchus asper, S. arvensis} and {\it Rumex obtusifolius}.
The southern section of the common is also mainly saltmarsh, in the main, a narrower strip than that at Tummer Hill, but with the better-developed areas of Creephaw and Wylock Marshes. The latter (2) appears to be cattle-grazed. Although no stock were present at the time of the site visit, there was evidence of grazing, in the form of poaching marks from hooves. There is an upper terrace to the marsh dominated by a sparse sward of {\it Puccinellia maritima} with locally frequent {\it Plantago maritima, Triglochin maritima, Armeria maritima} and locally occasional {\it Limonium} sp., {\it Spergularia media} and {\it Salicornia europaea}. This gives way to a lower marsh occupying most of the common, with abundant/frequent {\it Spartina anglica, Puccinellia maritima, Festuca rubra, Salicornia europaea, Cochlearia maritima, Triglochin maritima} and locally occasional {\it Halimione portulacoides} and {\it Limonium} sp.
Creephaw Marsh (3) al |
As already discussed, the Tummer Hill Marsh comprises the largest area of ungrazed saltmarsh in South Cumbria. The smaller strips and areas of saltmarsh elsewhere on the common appear to be grazed periodically by cattle.
There have been some preliminary steps taken towards the possible future construction of a wind farm on south Walney, near the former refuse tip which encroaches onto CL 3BF. This has involved an application to erect a 30m tall wind gauge to examine meteorological conditions on the island (Dec. 1995). |
| 1003 |
Cumbria |
3 |
Barrow-in-Furness |
Barrow in Furness |
No records of fauna specifically for this common. For an account of the fauna of the South Walney and Piel Channel Flats SSSI, please refer to CL 2BF. |
The common comprises three parcels of land on Walney Island. Two lie near to the hamlet of Biggar. One of these comprises a section of coastal saltmarsh within the South Walney and Piel Channel Flats SSSI, while the other lies on the landward side (ie. outside) the SSSI boundary. The third portion comprises a narrow coastal strip along the western side of South Walney, also lying outside the SSSI.
NB. the South Walney and Piel Channel Flats are also now proposed Special Area of Conservation (pSAC) under the EC Habitats Directive.
Owing to time constraints, parts of the common, including the SSSI section were not visited during the present survey. Much of the following description therefore relies on existing information sources.
(1). SSSI portion: These saltmarshes appear to be dominated mainly by {\it Spartina anglica}. A full account of the SSSI saltmarshes can be found under CL 2BF.
(2). Inland section at Biggar. This has quite a complex vegetation pattern (target notes from present survey). Most appears to be a transitional marshy grassland/salt marsh sward (mapped as marshy grassland by Phase 1 survey). The less well-drained areas are dominated by {\it Puccinellia maritima} with abundant {\it Triglochin maritima}, locally abundant {\it Festuca rubra}, frequent {\it Plantago maritima} and locally frequent {\it Juncus gerardii}. There are also quite muddy areas with {\it Agrostis stolonifera} and {\it Sueda maritima}. This grades into grassland with abundant {\it Agrostis stolonifera} and {\it Juncus gerardii}, locally frequent {\it Plantago maritima, Triglochin maritima} and {\it Glaux maritima}. Towards the road the sward is drier with abundant {\it Holcus lanatus, Agrostis capillaris, Potentilla anserina, Plantago lanceolata} and locally occasional {\it Ranunculus acris, Cirsium arvense, Trifolium pratense, Lathyrus pratensis} and {\it Vicia cracca}. There was also one area dominated by {\it Juncus effusus}, plus abundant {\it Epilobium hirsutum, H. lanatus, Carex otrubae, Senecio aquaticus}, plus frequent {\it Oenanthe lachenalii} and {\it Potentilla anserina}.
To the north the vegetation comprises a mosaic of neutral grassland plus tall ruderals, with scattered bushes of {\it Crataegus monogyna}.
(3) Western portion: There are target notes from the Phase 1 survey for Hillock Whins, to the north (1979 and 1986). This has a dune heathland/grassland mosaic with {\it Ulex europaeus, Centaurea nigra, Rubus fruticosus} agg., {\it Calluna vulgaris, Juncus articulatus, J. conglomeratus, Pteridium aquilinum, Ulex europaeus, Eriophorum angustifolium, Salix} spp., {\it Campanula rotundifolia, Potentilla erecta, Achillea millefolium, Plantago maritima} and {\it Carex arenaria}.
The entire seaward side of the common has a narrow shingle bank. This is largely unvegetated but has locally frequent/abundant {\it Honkenya peploides, Silene maritima, Atriplex spp., Rumex crispus, Crambe maritima} and {\it Tripleurospermum maritimum}.
To the south, much of the common has been disturbed by the presence of a landfill site on adjacent land, which appears to encroach onto the common in places. There is a rather disturbed remnant of dune grassland along Low Bank, colonised by ruderal/ephemeral species. Elsewhere the common is contiguous with the adjacent improved, cattle grazed permanent pasture (this part of the common only viewed from a distance). |
Some landward areas of the common are contiuous with adjacent cattle-grazed pasture land. Some of this may have originated as reclaimed landfill. As at August 1995, active landfill was encroaching on part of the site.
Coastal defence works are a consideration which may have implications for the shingle bank which runs along this part of Walney Island.
There have been some preliminary steps taken towards the possible future construction of a wind farm on South Walney, near the refuse tip at Low Bank. This has involved an application to erect a 30m tall wind gauge to examine meteorological conditions on the island (Dec. 1995).
Hillock Whins is recorded as a site of archaeological interest. |
