Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common

51°52′02″N 2°04′13″W / 51.867306°N 2.070391°W / 51.867306; -2.070391InterestBiological/GeologicalArea63.8hectareNotification1954Natural England website

Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common (grid reference SO952187) is a 63.8-hectare (158-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1954.[1][2] There are five units of assessment.[3]

The site is listed in the 'Cotswold District' Local Plan 2001-2011 (on line) as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).[4]

Location

The site is in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is one of a series of unimproved Jurassic limestone grassland area which are located along the Cotswold scarp. It is south of Cheltenham and near the communities of Leckhampton and Charlton Kings, and has a north-facing aspect. The site also includes disused quarry faces, and quarry spoil which has been vegetated.[1]

Geology

The Leckhampton quarries expose the thickest single cross-section through the Middle Jurassic, Inferior Oolite strata of the area. They are a major research interest, and there are many published accounts of the last 150 years. Strata of some 60 m are exposed, and the large outcrops are of significant importance to those studying palaeontology or sedimentology, and for studying ancient environments generally.[1]

Biology

The site supports a range of habitats which include unimproved calcareous grassland, woodland and scrub, cliff faces and scree slopes. The grassland is of major importance and it comprises a tall ungrazed sward. This is dominated by tor-grass, upright brome, meadow oat-grass, sweet vernal-grass and quaking grass. It is noted for its range of herbs which include salad burnet, common rock-rose, common bird's-foot-trefoil. The quarry floors support wild thyme, dwarf thistle, yellow-wort and autumn gentian. The site supports many plants which are scarce at a national or county level. These include fly orchid, musk orchid and purple milk-vetch. It is one of a small number of sites which support meadow clary in the county.[1]

Shrub areas support nesting birds such as meadow pipit and grasshopper warbler. It is a shelter area for invertebrates and small mammals.[1]

There are wooded areas of broad-leaved and coniferous trees including mature beech. These areas support a woodland flora such as ivy broomrape, white helleborine and greater butterfly-orchid.[1]

There is a reported population of adder.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Natural England SSSI information on the citation
  2. ^ Tewkesbury Borough Local Plan to 2011, adopted March 2006, Appendix 3 'Nature Conservation', Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  3. ^ Natural England SSSI information on the Leckhampton Hill And Charlton Kings Common units
  4. ^ Cotswold District Local Plan, Appendix 2, Key Wildlife Sites Archived 2013-10-13 at the Wayback Machine

SSSI Source

  • Natural England SSSI information on the citation
  • Natural England SSSI information on the Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common units

External links

  • Natural England (SSSI information)
  • View from Leckhampton Hill
    View from Leckhampton Hill
  • Paths on Leckhampton Hill
    Paths on Leckhampton Hill
  • Toposcope on Leckhampton Hill
    Toposcope on Leckhampton Hill
  • Cotswold Way on Leckhampton Hill
    Cotswold Way on Leckhampton Hill
  • Cliff faces on Leckhampton Hill
    Cliff faces on Leckhampton Hill
  • Devil's Chimney, Leckhampton Hill
    Devil's Chimney, Leckhampton Hill
  • Lower slopes of Charlton Kings Common
    Lower slopes of Charlton Kings Common
  • Footpath on Charlton Kings Common
    Footpath on Charlton Kings Common
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Neighbouring areas
Avon
Herefordshire
Oxfordshire
Wiltshire
Worcestershire