Moorlinch SSSI
51°07′12″N 2°52′23″W / 51.12002°N 2.87293°W / 51.12002; -2.87293
Moorlinch (grid reference ST390360) is a 226.0 hectare (558.4 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest at Moorlinch in Somerset, notified in 1985.
Moorlinch is part of the extensive grazing marsh grasslands and ditch systems of the Somerset Levels and Moors. Lying in the Parrett Basin at the foot of the Polden Hills, the area drains by gravity into the King’s Sedgemoor Drain. The water table is high for most of the year with frequent winter flooding from high ground and surface water remaining on many fields throughout the winter and early spring. Moorlinch contains a good proportion of botanically rich ditch systems. Regularly maintained field ditches are often species-rich and diverse. Notable species include Lesser Water-plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides), Tubular Water-dropwort (Oenanthe fistulosa) and Hairlike Pondweed (Potamogeton trichoides). The channels and banksides support a rich fauna; rare species include the water beetle (Hydrophilus piceus) and the soldier fly (Odontomyia ornata). Large populations of dragonflies and damselflies occur, including the Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) and the Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum).[1]
References
- ^ "Moorlinch" (PDF). English Nature. Retrieved 17 August 2006.
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Biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset
- Aller and Beer Woods
- Aller Hill
- Asham Wood
- Axbridge Hill and Fry's Hill
- Babcary Meadows
- Barle Valley
- Barrington Hill Meadows
- Berrow Dunes
- Black Down and Sampford Commons
- Brean Down
- Bridgwater Bay
- Briggins Moor
- Catcott, Edington and Chilton Moors
- Chancellor's Farm
- Cheddar Complex
- Cheddar Reservoir
- Cheddar Wood
- Cleeve Hill
- Cogley Wood
- Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill
- Curry and Hay Moors
- Deadman
- Draycott Sleights
- Dunster Park and Heathlands
- East Polden Grasslands
- Ebbor Gorge
- Edford Woods and Meadows
- Exmoor Coastal Heaths
- Fivehead Woods and Meadow
- Freshmoor
- Friar's Oven
- Ge-mare Farm Fields
- Great Breach and Copley Woods
- Grove Farm
- Hardington Moor
- Hestercombe House
- Holme Moor & Clean Moor
- King's Sedgemoor
- Kingdown and Middledown
- Kingweston Meadows
- Lang's Farm
- Langford Heathfield
- Langmead and Weston Level
- Long Lye
- Long Lye Meadow
- Longleat Woods
- Millwater
- Moorlinch
- Nettlecombe Park
- North Brewham Meadows
- North Curry Meadow
- North Exmoor
- North Moor
- Old Iron Works, Mells
- Perch
- Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh
- Postlebury Wood
- Priddy Pools
- Prior's Park & Adcombe Wood
- Quantock Hills
- Quants
- Ringdown
- River Barle
- Rodney Stoke
- Roebuck Meadows
- Ruttersleigh
- Severn Estuary
- Shapwick Heath
- Sharpham Moor Plot
- South Exmoor
- Southey and Gotleigh Moors
- Southlake Moor
- Sparkford Wood
- St. Dunstan's Well Catchment
- Stowell Meadow
- Street Heath
- Tealham and Tadham Moors
- Thurlbear Wood and Quarrylands
- Twinhills Woods and Meadows
- Vallis Vale
- Walton and Ivythorn Hills
- West Moor
- West Sedgemoor
- Westhay Heath
- Westhay Moor
- Wet Moor
- Whitevine Meadows
- Windsor Hill Marsh
- Wookey Hole
- Woolhayes Farm
- Neighbouring areas
- Avon
- Devon
- Dorset
- Wiltshire
