Grassland, Winter Hill Golf Club, Cookham Dean

SU881865

Date of

 survey

Species (common

name)

 Species (latin name) Survey location Species indicator of semi-improved grassland* Species indicator of improved grassland**
25/08/2007 Autumn hawkbit Leontodon autumnalis Margin x
25/08/2007 Cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata Grassland x
25/08/2007 Common bent Agrostis capillaris Grassland x
25/08/2007 Common centaury Centaurium erythaea Margin near NT land
25/08/2007 Common chickweed Stellaria media Margin near NT land
25/08/2007 Common mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum Margin
25/08/2007 Common nettle Urtica dioica Margin x
25/08/2007 Cranesbill spp Geranium spp Margin
25/08/2007 Creeping thistle Cirsium arvense Margin x
25/08/2007 False oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius Grassland x
25/08/2007 Fat hen Chenopodium album Margin near NT land
25/08/2007 Field pansy Viola arvensis Margin near NT land
25/08/2007

Field speedwell(prob.

 Grey)

 Veronica spp (polita) Grassland
25/08/2007 Foxglove Digitalis purpurea Margin near NT land woodland
25/08/2007 Greater plantain Plantago major Margin
25/08/2007 Ground ivy Glechoma hederacea Margin
25/08/2007 Hedge bindweed Convolvulus sepium Margin
25/08/2007 Hedgerow cranesbill Geranium pyrenaicum Margin
25/08/2007 Hemlock Conium maculatum Margin 
25/08/2007 Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium Margin
25/08/2007 Lesser hawkbit Leontodon saxatilis Margin near NT land
25/08/2007 Marsh thistle Cirsium palustre Margin x
25/08/2007 Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris Margin
25/08/2007 Ragwort Senecio spp. Margin
25/08/2007 Ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata Margin x
25/08/2007 Rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus Margin near NT land
25/08/2007 Scarlet pimpernel Anagallis arvensis Margin near NT land
25/08/2007 Selfheal Prunella vulgaris Margin x
25/08/2007 Sheep's sorrel Rumex acetosella Margin near NT land
25/08/2007 Spear thistle Cirsium vulgare Margin x
25/08/2007 Speedwell spp Veronica spp  Margin x
25/08/2007 Stork's bill Erodium cicutarium Margin
25/08/2007 Timothy Phleum pratense Grassland x
25/08/2007 Vetch spp Vicia spp. Grassland
25/08/2007 Weld Reseda luteola Margin near NT land
25/08/2007 White campion Silene latifolia Margin
25/08/2007 White clover Trifolium repens Margin x
25/08/2007 White dead nettle Lamium album Margin
25/08/2007 Wood forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica Margin near NT land woodland
25/08/2007 Yarrow Achillea millefolium Margin x
Total 40
Comments from surveyor Sarah Wright
I am not good with identifying grasses at all so the list is not complete!
I concentrated on the margins of the grassland so this is a partial survey only. Future surveys when the grass has not grown too long is advised.
Sounds of crickets, sightings of spiders, evidence of mole and hunting bird of prey suggests other surveys would produce interesting results.
Grasses appeared to dominate in the main grassland. However, this may be a false impression arising from the survey being carried out at a very superficial level of detail and when the grass was very long and therefore visually and physically dominant. A quick walk across the grassland did reveal some areas of tussocky grass and presence of some low-growing species such as field speedwell and a vetch spp. Further survey is needed before any conclusion is made about the interest of this main grassland area.
Concluding remarks: margin adjacent to NT land certainly has interest, particularly in its association with NT land. Main grassland area interest yet to be established. Thistle spp need to be monitored.
* Indicators based upon list of species informing national BAP grassland inventory/Environmental Stewardship habitat classification for 'good quality semi-improved grassland'.
** Indicators based upon list of species used to determine Phase 1 Improved grassland classification.