Fallowlees Flush

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Fallowlees Flush
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Northumberland UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Northumberland
Location Northumberland
Grid reference NZ 030937
Coordinates 55°14′13″N1°57′09″W / 55.236901°N 1.952576°W / 55.236901; -1.952576 Coordinates: 55°14′13″N1°57′09″W / 55.236901°N 1.952576°W / 55.236901; -1.952576
InterestBiological
Area2.4 hectares (5.9 acres)
Notification 1990
Location map DEFRA MAGIC map
Natural England website

Fallowlees Flush is the name given to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in mid-Northumberland, England. The steeply sloping site has calcium-rich springs supporting vegetation rare in the county. [1] [2]

Contents

Location and natural features

Fallowlees Flush is situated in the north-east of England in the county of Northumberland, to the west of Fontburn Reservoir and the east of Harwood Forest, 7.8 kilometres (4.8 mi) west-north-west of Netherwitton and 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) east-south-east of Forestburn Gate. The 2.4 hectares (5.9 acres) site is situated on a north-east facing slope descending from 210 metres (690 ft) to 190 metres (620 ft), above sea level above a stream feeding the reservoir. [1] [2]

Flora

Flora on the site grades from species rich areas fed by lime-rich springs, through to a wooded fringe by the stream. The SSSI citation sets out four distinct groups of vegetation. [2]

Moss-donimated turf dominates areas where springs arise, and are characterised by stonewort ( Charales ), flea-sedge ( Carex pulicaris ), tawny sedge ( Carex hostiana ), long-stalked yellow-sedge ( Carex lepidocarpa ) and broad-leaved cottongrass ( Eriophorum latifolium ). [2]

A wider area is influenced by the springs, and in addition to the sedges and cottongrass, supports dioecious sedge ( Carex dioica ), marsh lousewort ( Pedicularis palustris ), creeping willow ( Salix repens ), devil's-bit scabious ( Succisa pratensis ), purple moor-grass ( Molinia caerulea ), marsh cinquefoil ( Potentilla palustris ), meadowsweet ( Filipendula ulmaria ), jointed rush ( Juncus articulatus ) as well as common butterwort ( Pinguicula vulgaris ), grass-of-Parnassus ( Parnassia palustris ), marsh valerian ( Valeriana dioica ), and early marsh-orchid ( Dactylorhiza incarnata ). [2]

More acidic areas of the site support water plants such as oval sedge ( Carex leporina [lower-alpha 1] ) and star sedge ( Carex echinata ), as well as greater amounts of jointed rush. [2]

Woodland areas by the stream are composed of alder ( Alnus glutinosa ), downy birch ( Betula pubescens ) and hazel ( Corylus avellana ). Ground flora in the woodland area includes tufted hair-grass ( Deschampsia cespitosa ), water avens ( Geum rivale ), wood crane’s-bill ( Geranium sylvaticum ) and a substantial stand of lesser pond-sedge ( Carex acutiformis ). [2]

The condition of Fallowlees Flush was judged to be favourable in 2011, with some concerns about bracken encroachment noted. [4]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ C. leporina is often called by the nom. illeg. synonym Carex ovalis. [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 "MAGIC Map Application - Fallowlees Flush". DEFRA MAGIC Map. DEFRA.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Fallowlees Flush SSSI Citation" (PDF). Natural England.
  3. ↑ Barbara Wilson; Carex Working Group (February 2008). "The Carex leporina/ovalis/leporina name problem". www.carexworkinggroup.com. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  4. ↑ "Condition of SSSI Units for Site Fallowlees Flush". Natural England. 26 June 2012.
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