Briarcroft Pasture
Encyclopedia
Briarcroft Pasture is a 1.76 hectare
biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Cleveland, England
notified in 2004.
, formally English Nature
, which uses the 1974-1996 county system
. This means there is no grouping of SSSIs by Stockton-on-Tees
unitary authority, or County Durham
which is the relevant ceremonial county
. As such Briarcroft Pasture is one of 18 SSSIs in the Cleveland area of search.
Briarcroft Pasture is nationally important for its species-rich
grassland
which is unimproved by fertilisers. This type of grassland - once common in the Tees lowland - is becoming increasingly rare with associated species also becoming rare. Briarcroft Pasture is one of only two remaining examples of this habitat in the Tees lowland area
. The other example is Whitton Bridge Pasture
an SSSI approximately 3 km to the north which was designated at the same time but is significantly larger.
Under the British National Vegetation Classification
(NVC), Briarcroft Pasture is considered as mesotrophic grassland
because it represents a well-drained and permanent pasture. In particular it is considered the MG5 community
due to the species present. MG5 is widespread in many lowland areas in England, Wales and Scotland as well as the Midlands and Yorkshire. Briarcroft Pasture is predominantly subcommunity MG5c (Danthonia decumbens) however this forms a mosiac with community MG9
which is associated with poorly-drained permanent pastures.
Briarcrift Pasture, located west of Stockton-on-Tees
and close to Whinney Hill, County Durham
, is a small site 1.8 hectares (4.4 acres). Topographically the site is level and has an altitude of approximately 50 m
and is adjacent to a small stream. The underlying geology
of Whitton Bridge Pasture is responsible for shaping the species-rich community found on the surface. Glacial tills
and sands
are the prominent geological features resulting in a relatively base-poor soil, characteristic of glacial drift geology. The soils of MG5c (Danthonia decumbens) subcommunity are typically acidic.
Located in North East England
, Briarcroft Pasture experience a climate that differs from the UK average. The North East receives on average 370 mm less rainfall than the UK over a year. Similarly the North East has roughly 129 days each year with more than 1 mm of rainfall, this is over 25 days less than UK average. Temperature is similar for both the North East and the UK, although the North East does have fewer days with air frost and more hours of sunshine per year.
and several other grass species at lower abundances. The dominant species are Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Common Bent
(Agrostis capillaris) and Yorkshire Fog
(Holcus lanatus). The less abundant species of grass include, Crested Dog’s-tail (Cynosurus cristatus), Heath-grass
(Danthonia decumbens) and Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata). The subcommunity also has many broad-leaved herbs including Common Knapweed
(Centaurea nigra), Tormentil
(Potentilla erecta), Devils-bit scabious
(Succisa pratensis) and Betony (Stachys officinalis).
A second community, MG9
, forms a mosaic with the species rich grassland of MG5. This second community is associated with Holcus lanatus and Deschampsia caespitosa. Other prominent plants are herbs, including many species with a local distribution among them; Saw-wort
(Serratula tinctoria) and dyer’s
greenweed
(Genista tinctoria). Meadow Barely
(Hordeum secalinum) is also present.
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Cleveland, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
notified in 2004.
Reason for Notification
SSSIs are designated by Natural EnglandNatural England
Natural England is the non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils, are protected and improved...
, formally English Nature
English Nature
English Nature was the United Kingdom government agency that promoted the conservation of wildlife, geology and wild places throughout England between 1990 and 2006...
, which uses the 1974-1996 county system
Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England
Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of subdivisions of England used for the purposes of local government outside Greater London. As originally constituted, the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties each consisted of multiple districts, had a county council and...
. This means there is no grouping of SSSIs by Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees (borough)
Stockton-on-Tees is a unitary authority area and borough in the Tees Valley area of north east England, with a population in 2001 of 178,408, rising to 185,880 in 2005 estimates....
unitary authority, or County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
which is the relevant ceremonial county
Ceremonial counties of England
The ceremonial counties are areas of England to which are appointed a Lord Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as counties and areas for the purposes of the Lieutenancies Act 1997 with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England and Lieutenancies Act 1997...
. As such Briarcroft Pasture is one of 18 SSSIs in the Cleveland area of search.
Briarcroft Pasture is nationally important for its species-rich
Species richness
Species richness is the number of different species in a given area. It is represented in equation form as S.Species richness is the fundamental unit in which to assess the homogeneity of an environment. Typically, species richness is used in conservation studies to determine the sensitivity of...
grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
which is unimproved by fertilisers. This type of grassland - once common in the Tees lowland - is becoming increasingly rare with associated species also becoming rare. Briarcroft Pasture is one of only two remaining examples of this habitat in the Tees lowland area
Tees Valley
The Tees Valley is an area in the North East of England. It can be described as "greater Teesside" and consists of the four unitary authorities created by the breakup of the County of Cleveland in 1996: Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, and Stockton-On-Tees along with the borough of...
. The other example is Whitton Bridge Pasture
Whitton Bridge Pasture
Whitton Bridge Pasture is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the unitary authority of Stockton-on-Tees, England. At 3.18 hectares it lies to the south of Whitton village and north west of Stockton-on-Tees. SSSIs are chosen by Natural England, and Whitton Bridge Pasture was designated...
an SSSI approximately 3 km to the north which was designated at the same time but is significantly larger.
Under the British National Vegetation Classification
British National Vegetation Classification
The British National Vegetation Classification or NVC is a system of classifying natural habitat types in Great Britain according to the vegetation they contain....
(NVC), Briarcroft Pasture is considered as mesotrophic grassland
Mesotrophic grasslands in the British National Vegetation Classification system
This article gives an overview of the mesotrophic grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system.-Introduction:The mesotrophic grassland communities of the NVC were described in Volume 3 of British Plant Communities, first published in 1992, along with the...
because it represents a well-drained and permanent pasture. In particular it is considered the MG5 community
British NVC community MG5
British NVC community MG5 is one of the mesotrophic grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of four such communities associated with well-drained permanent pastures and meadows.This community is widely distributed community though common only in...
due to the species present. MG5 is widespread in many lowland areas in England, Wales and Scotland as well as the Midlands and Yorkshire. Briarcroft Pasture is predominantly subcommunity MG5c (Danthonia decumbens) however this forms a mosiac with community MG9
British NVC community MG9
British NVC community MG9 is one of the mesotrophic grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of three communities associated with poorly-drained permanent pastures.It is a widespread community throughout the British lowlands...
which is associated with poorly-drained permanent pastures.
Abiotic
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
and close to Whinney Hill, County Durham
Whinney Hill, County Durham
Whinney Hill is a village within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and the ceremonial county of County Durham, England....
, is a small site 1.8 hectares (4.4 acres). Topographically the site is level and has an altitude of approximately 50 m
M
M is the thirteenth letter of the basic modern Latin alphabet.-History:The letter M is derived from the Phoenician Mem, via the Greek Mu . Semitic Mem probably originally pictured water...
and is adjacent to a small stream. The underlying geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
of Whitton Bridge Pasture is responsible for shaping the species-rich community found on the surface. Glacial tills
Till
thumb|right|Closeup of glacial till. Note that the larger grains in the till are completely surrounded by the matrix of finer material , and this characteristic, known as matrix support, is diagnostic of till....
and sands
Sands
-Buildings:*Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, a newly-opened casino resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania*Sands Hotel, a closed hotel/casino in Las Vegas, Nevada**Sands Atlantic City, a closed hotel/casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey...
are the prominent geological features resulting in a relatively base-poor soil, characteristic of glacial drift geology. The soils of MG5c (Danthonia decumbens) subcommunity are typically acidic.
Located in North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
, Briarcroft Pasture experience a climate that differs from the UK average. The North East receives on average 370 mm less rainfall than the UK over a year. Similarly the North East has roughly 129 days each year with more than 1 mm of rainfall, this is over 25 days less than UK average. Temperature is similar for both the North East and the UK, although the North East does have fewer days with air frost and more hours of sunshine per year.
Biotic
The majority of the site is made up of species-rich grassland (subcommunity MG5c), which comprises three dominant species of grassGrass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
and several other grass species at lower abundances. The dominant species are Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Common Bent
Agrostis
Agrostis is a genus of over 100 species belonging to the grass family Poaceae, commonly referred to as the bent grasses...
(Agrostis capillaris) and Yorkshire Fog
Yorkshire Fog
Yorkshire Fog or Velvet Grass, Holcus lanatus, is a perennial grass in the Poaceae Family. 'Lanatus' is latin for 'wooly' which describes the plant's hairy texture....
(Holcus lanatus). The less abundant species of grass include, Crested Dog’s-tail (Cynosurus cristatus), Heath-grass
Danthonia
Danthonia is a genus of grass species. Grasses of this genus are sometimes referred to as oatgrass, but that common name is not restricted to this genus.Species include:*Danthonia alpina Vest*Danthonia cachemyriana Jaub. & Spach...
(Danthonia decumbens) and Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata). The subcommunity also has many broad-leaved herbs including Common Knapweed
Centaurea
Centaurea is a genus of between 350 and 600 species of herbaceous thistle-like flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Members of the genus are found only north of the equator, mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere; the Middle East and surrounding regions are particularly species-rich...
(Centaurea nigra), Tormentil
Tormentil
Common Tormentil is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the rose family , also known as Septfoil or simply as "tormentil" .-Characteristics:It is a low, clumb-forming plant with slender, procumbent...
(Potentilla erecta), Devils-bit scabious
Succisa
Succisa is a genus of flowering plants in the Dipsacaceae family.Species include the Devil's bit scabious, Succisa pratensis....
(Succisa pratensis) and Betony (Stachys officinalis).
A second community, MG9
British NVC community MG9
British NVC community MG9 is one of the mesotrophic grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of three communities associated with poorly-drained permanent pastures.It is a widespread community throughout the British lowlands...
, forms a mosaic with the species rich grassland of MG5. This second community is associated with Holcus lanatus and Deschampsia caespitosa. Other prominent plants are herbs, including many species with a local distribution among them; Saw-wort
Serratula tinctoria
Serratula tinctoria, commonly known as Saw-wort, is a species in the genus Serratula. It is a native of Europe. It grows in moist soil, full sun to part shade, and grows up to one meter tall....
(Serratula tinctoria) and dyer’s
greenweed
Genista
Genista is a genus of legumes which includes many species of broom. Many of these brooms are notorious as noxious weeds.Species include:*Genista aetnensis - Mount Etna broom*Genista anglica - petty whin, needle furze*Genista canariensis...
(Genista tinctoria). Meadow Barely
Hordeum
Hordeum is a genus of about 30 species of annual and perennial grasses, native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere, temperate South America, and also South Africa....
(Hordeum secalinum) is also present.