Perch SSSI
51°16′32″N 2°44′49″W / 51.27556°N 2.74685°W / 51.27556; -2.74685
The Perch (grid reference ST480532) is a 72.1 hectare (178.2 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest close to Cheddar Gorge in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, England. It received SSSI notification in 1990.
This site is important because it supports populations of nationally rare and scarce plants, together with grassland and woodland habitats which are nationally restricted in distribution.[1]
The site is located on the south side of the Mendip Hills occupying a position on a steep-sided ridge which runs north to south. The underlying rocks are almost entirely carboniferous limestone with a small amount of Triassic dolomitic conglomerate.[1]
The nationally rare purple gromwell (Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum) and the nationally scarce Ivy Broomrape (Orobanche hederae) also occur. Three species of orchid occur in these grassland areas: the Green-winged Orchid (Orchis morio), the pyramidal orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) and the Autumn Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis). Two nationally rare plants, the Cheddar pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus) and the Cheddar bedstraw (Galium fleurotii) are found on this site, as are two nationally scarce species: the rock stonecrop (Sedum forsterianum) and the spring cinquefoil (Potentilla tabernaemontani).[1]
This variety of habitats ensures that a wide range of fauna occurs on the site. In total 22 species of mammal have been recorded including a strong population of dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) and five species of bat, including the Greater Horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) and Lesser Horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) which use the site for feeding. One small roost of lesser horseshoe bats is known. Both species of horseshoe bat are nationally rare. Thirty species of birds are known to breed within this site and at least 23 species of butterfly breed here.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "The Perch" (PDF). English Nature. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
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- Ashwick
- Axbridge
- Banwell
- Bishop Sutton
- Blagdon
- Bleadon
- Burrington
- Charterhouse
- Cheddar
- Chewton Mendip
- Churchill
- Compton Bishop
- Compton Martin
- Cross
- Draycott
- East Harptree
- Easton
- Hinton Blewett
- Hutton
- Leigh-on-Mendip
- Litton
- Oakhill
- Priddy
- Rodney Stoke
- Rowberrow
- Sandford
- Shepton Mallet
- Shipham
- Ubley
- Webbington
- Wells
- West Harptree
- Westbury-sub-Mendip
- Winscombe
- Wookey Hole
- Attborough Swallet
- Aveline's Hole
- Axbridge Ochre Mine
- Banwell Caves
- Banwell Ochre Caves
- Burrington Combe
- Charterhouse Cave
- Cheddar Gorge
- Compton Martin Ochre Mine
- Cox's Cave
- Eastwater Cavern
- Ebbor Gorge
- Fairy Cave Quarry
- GB Cave
- Goatchurch Cavern
- Gough's Cave
- Hunter's Hole
- Lamb Leer
- Longwood Swallet
- Manor Farm Swallet
- Picken's Hole
- Pierre's Pot
- Priddy Caves
- Read's Cavern
- Reservoir Hole
- Rhino Rift
- Rod's Pot
- Shatter Cave
- Shute Shelve Cavern
- Sidcot Swallet
- St Cuthbert's Swallet
- St. Dunstan's Well Catchment
- Stoke Lane Slocker
- Swildon's Hole
- Thrupe Lane Swallet
- Tyning's Barrow Swallet
- Upper Flood Swallet
- W/L Cave
- Wookey Hole Caves
- Asham Wood
- Axbridge Hill and Fry's Hill
- Banwell Caves
- Banwell Ochre Caves
- Barns Batch Spinney
- Blagdon Lake
- Bleadon Hill
- Brimble Pit and Cross Swallet Basins
- Burledge Hill
- Burrington Combe
- Chancellor's Farm
- Cheddar Complex
- Cheddar Reservoir
- Cheddar Wood
- Chew Valley Lake
- Cloford Quarry
- Compton Martin Ochre Mine
- Cook's Wood Quarry
- Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill
- Dolebury Warren
- Draycott Sleights
- Ebbor Gorge
- Emborough Quarries
- Harptree Combe
- Hobbs Quarry
- Holwell Quarries
- Kingdown and Middledown
- Lamb Leer
- Priddy Caves
- Priddy Pools
- Perch
- Rodney Stoke
- St. Dunstan's Well Catchment
- Sandpit Hole and Bishop's Lot
- Shiplate Slait
- Viaduct Quarry
- Windsor Hill Quarry
- Wurt Pit and Devil's Punchbowl