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Report on the Open Space at Houston, Adjacent to Manse Crescent.
The site was visited on 16th July 2007 by Nikki Dayton of Quadrat Scotland to carry out an ecological assessment. The site was assessed by way of a walk around to see the habitats present and any sign of other species, especially protected species under wildlife and habitats legislation. In addition, sites immediately adjacent were looked at and possible corridors mapped. Site Description The site comprises a small field running between the Neuk and Manse Crescent. An old road/track runs along the eastern boundary The field is largely grassland, typical of semi-improved pasture, with areas of scrub and trees along the eastern boundary track and along the southern boundary and in a block between the two roads to the north. There is also a small copse of birch and pine trees to the far south. Other features include a small triangle of wetland at the south-west corner of the site (target note 7), a patch of common reed within the scrubby block to the north (target note 3) and a significant, mature ash tree along the eastern boundary (target note 4). Species connected to the site include a number woodland birds protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act including wren, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, green finch and willow warbler. Bats have been seen hunting on the site and could potentially use the mature ash as a roost site, or local buildings. Badger are known to have a sett within the adjacent woodland and may well use the scrub along the eastern boundary as a corridor. The site is located between areas of semi-natural habitat including woodland to the north and scrub and meadow to the south-west, and forms a tongue of green-space between the old and new parts of Houston. As well as forming a divide between these two settlements, this site forms an integral link in a corridor between the extensive woods around Houston House through to the riparian woodland along the River Gryfe. This route is almost certainly used by more mobile species such as birds, bats and some mammals, e.g. badger and this facet of the site should be retained. Conclusions and Recommendations The site is of relatively minor importance for its habitats and species, though may provide at least temporary roosts for bats. The wetland areas are too small to be of high conservation importance and the remaining habitat is typical of semi-improved pasture and unmown hedgerow. The main feature of note within this site is the mature ash tree (target note 4) which has a massive trunk and crown. This has potential as a bat roost and nest site for birds as well as hosting a range of invertebrates. This tree should be left undisturbed with a large buffer zone and a more detailed dawn/dusk bat survey by licensed personnel is advised. The site is most important for its position as a green link cutting between the old and new parts of Houston Village (See Appendix 1). This field provides a corridor between the mature woodlands around Houston House and the woodland around the cemetery and connects to the Gryfe valley along the old road. This will be used by a number of protected species including bats and birds to access feeding grounds and for dispersal. Any proposals for this site should recognise and retain this link, preferably enhancing it with new planting of indigenous trees and herbs and providing nest boxes for bats and birds. This site is also an important recreation area for local residents who use the site for dog walking, strolling and other pursuits. It is understood that they would be in favour of supporting a green link through this site, both to retain the area of green space for leisure activities and to provide additional habitat and local interpretation of the wildlife in this area. Nikki Dayton Senior Ecologist Quadrat Scotland.
Target Notes - The site lies adjacent to an area of mature, largely broad-leaved woodland of plantation origin, dominated by oak, sycamore, beech and horse-chestnut with some yew and holly as well as other native and introduced species. There are known badger setts within the wood and, although the wood is surrounded by a high wall, there are signs of badger activity around the gateway closest to the green and badger have been seen on the road (pers comm. observation). Some of the trees are large, to 60cm DBH and will support local populations of woodland birds and invertebrates.
- Rough scrub between the old road and Manse Crescent. The strip is dominated by rosebay willow-herb Chamaerion angustifolium and bramble Rubus fruticosus between scattered hawthorns Crataegus monogyna and young sycamores Acer pseudoplatanus with dog roses Rosa canina scrambling over. Around the margins are rank species typical of unmown hedgerow: Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, cleavers Galium aparine, hogweed Heracleum sphondyllium, nettles Urtica dioica, thistles Cirsium arvense, false oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius, broad-leaved dock Rumex obtusifolius, buckler fern Dryopteris dilitata, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and common vetch Vicia sativa. A path has been mown through this area that is evidently used by walkers, e.g. with dogs but has also been used for dumping some garden rubbish. Birds seen in this vicinity include blue tit, great tit, wren, willow warbler, chaffinch and crow. Bats have also been seen flying around this area at dusk, ? pipistrelle, roost site unknown.
- A small wetland area near the southern tip of the scrubby area (NS 4110 66687) adjacent to a small ash Fraxinus excelsior. Within a small stand of great willow-herb Epilobium hirsutum there are a few stems of common reed Phragmites australis and other typical fen species including marsh stitchwort Stellaria alsine, common vetch Vicia sativa, nettle Urtica dioica and creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens.
- A huge, mature ash (NS 41121 66664) with a broad, spreading crown with a rough fissured bark in the canopy making it ideal habitat for bats and other species. This is an important tree in habitat, and probably historic terms, and should be retained with a minimum 10m buffer radius around the trunk. A picture of this tree is located at the bottom of this page.
- The main area of the site is semi-improved grassland, recently not mown. The species present are typical of pasture grassland with some perennial rye-grass common around the mown margins suggesting seeding at some point. Within the main meadow the grassland is dominated by Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera, Creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens and white clover Trifolium repens. Other species present are more typical of less-improved grassland, including red fescue Festuca rubra, sweet-vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis, self-heal Prunella vulgaris, lesser stitchwort Stellaria holosteoides, sorrel Rumex acetosa, common cat’s-ear Hypochoeris radicata and other species.
- Scrub alongside the field is dominated by hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, rowan Sorbus aucuparia and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus with rough grassland/hedgerow species beneath: raspberry Rubus idaeus, hogweed Heracleum sphondyllium, nettle Urtica dioica, bramble Rubus fruticosus, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, ground ivy Glechoma hederacea and buckler fern Dryopteris dilitata.
- A small wetland area in the corner of the site with locally frequent great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum, and soft rush Juncus effusus. Also present is tufted hair-grass Deschampsia caespitosa, silverweed Potentilla anserina, greater bird’s-foot trefoil Lotus uliginosus and marsh willowherb Epilobium palustre.
- A small copse of trees, predominantly silver birch Betula pendula with some Scots pine Pinus sylvestris. The ground layer is dominated by rank grasses including Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata and couch Elymus repens.
A picture of the mature ash tree mentioned in item 4. :
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