TVERC WILDLIFE SITE SURVEY REPORT

SITE NAME
Radley Gravel Pits / SITE CODE
59I03 / CENTRAL GRID REFERENCE
SU 521973
SURVEY TITLE
County Wildlife Site (using additional datasets listed in Table 1 below) / DATES SITE SURVEYED
24 April 2006 for 2.5 hours by Camilla Lambrick and Beccy Willetts; 5 June for 4 hours Camilla Lambrick and Jenny Sneddon; and 16 June for 6 hours by Camilla Lambrick, accompanied by David Guyoncourt and Jo Cartmell. / DATABASE CODE
DISTRICT
Vale of the White Horse / PARISH
Radley and Abingdon / SURVEYOR(S)
Camilla Lambrick and Beccy Willetts, Jenny Sneddon, accompanied by Jo Cartmell and David Guyoncourt.
ASSESSMENT OF SURVEY
The survey effort undertaken on the site has varied greatly between different areas and for different taxonomic groups.
During the CWS survey, which aimed to visit most of the areas and assess the habitats, the following compartments were visited: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, the unbunded parts of 8 and 9, and compartment 10. Compartments 4 and 11 were not visited.
CWS survey total 12.5 hrs, which was not sufficient for full species lists. The weather was good.
Other surveys – many hours of survey time, not known in detail, see Table 1.
LANDOWNER NAME
AND ADDRESS
RWE npower, Mr J Curtis, Tuckwells Ltd and Mr Attiya
Access permission from: the owners and Tuckwells Ltd
SITE STATUS NNR SSSI pSSSI CWS/WHS LWS RIGS LNR BBOWT Res Other Res
At time of survey Common Land Private land AONB ESA SPA SAC Other: proposed CWS
MANAGEMENT BODY
Owners and Tuckwells Ltd
OTHER DETAILS
There are a variety of land uses, including extensive informal recreation, notably dog walking. A Sustrans bicycle route runs through the site.
SITE AREA
171.70 ha / MAJOR ASPECT
none / MAJOR SLOPE
none / ALTITUDE
55 m
GEOLOGY
River gravel terrace in centre and north of site and alluvium to south (southern part of compartment 5).
SOILS Neut Calc Acid Clay Loam Sand Peat Alluv Rock Scree Spoil
Water logged Poorly drained Freely drained Other: PFAsand
SPECIAL INTEREST OF SITE
The site includes a series of former gravel pits and other water bodies with a high diversity of associated wildlife. Most of the pits have been filled in but the remaining lakes include some with low conductivity levels (Lakes E and F), and some with higher conductivity levels (Lake M). Conductivity is a measure of material dissolved in the water. Low conductivity generally means higher water quality usually because of lower levels of nutrients, such as nitrates and phosphates, and also lower levels of pollutants. Low conductivity is a feature of eutrophic, and particularly oligo-mesotrophic water. Some areas have been filled and partly restored with topsoil, and these also carry a high diversity of early successional habitats. The site has in the past had a very rich bird fauna which has declined, but the area is still important at a county level for some groups and species, notably Cetti’s warbler and wintering wildfowl. The site also has a wide range of uncommon species of mammal, notably otters and water voles. Herptiles are well represented and invertebrates are also rich with many species of open and grassy habitats, especially aculeate hymenoptera and orthoptera. Plants are also diverse, with unusual species of open ground, such as lesser centaury. Plants of calcareous soils are present, such as white helleborine and pyramidal orchid. Wetland species are very diverse with at least 52 species typical of wetlands. Nine species of aquatic higher plants were found which is quite diverse. The site has three species of stonewort making it of local importance (Stewart 2004).
The following listing does not include casual records. Species are only listed once, even if they are also relevant under later categories (except for the typical species). References to data sources are given in the compartment descriptions and are listed in full in Table 1.
UKBAP priority habitats, Total 3: Oligotrophic-mesotrophic standing water, Eutrophic standing water and Reedbed.
Small areas of Wet Woodland and Fen vegetation are also present.
UKBAP species, Total 17: Water vole, otter, common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle, harvest mouse, great crested newt, song thrush, linnet, reed bunting, skylark, spotted flycatcher, bullfinch, turtle dove, tree sparrow. Nomada ferruginata, a cuckoo bee; Cerceris quinquefasciata, 5 banded-tail digger wasp; red hemp-nettle (pre-2000).
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Schedule 1, Total 6: Cetti’s warbler, hobby, kingfisher, redwing, fieldfare, barn owl.
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Schedule 5, Total 8: Noctule bat, Daubenton’s bat, slow-worm, grass snake, smooth newt, common frog, common toad and great crested newt.
Red data book species, Total 8:
RDB2, 3:Ephemera lineata, a mayfly; Philanthus triangulum, a bee; Antichaeta brevipennis, a snail-killing fly.
RDB3, 4: Sphecodes niger, a cuckoo bee; Stelis ornatula, a bee; Nomada fulvicornis, a cleptoparasitic bee; Nomada lathburiana, a cleptoparasitic bee.
PRDB4, 1:Philanthus triangulum, a yellow and black digger wasp
Red List Plants (2005), Total 5:Wall bedstraw (first Oxon record); dwarf spurge; round-fruited rush, white helleborine, opposite-leaved pondweed.

Nationally Scarce notable,Total 36: Anagnota bicolour, a fly; Chlorops laetus, a fly

Notable a Total 9: Conocephalus discolor, Long-winged conehead; Nomada fucata, a cleptoparasitic bee; Hylaeus cornutus, a yellow-faced bee; Hylaeus brivicornus, a solitary bee; Sphecodes longulus, a cuckoo bee; Priocnemis coriacea, a spider-hunting wasp; Andrena fulvago, a solitary bee; Andrena labiata, a bee; Lasioglossum pauxillum, a mining bee.
Notable b, Total 25: Metrioptera roeselii, Roesel's bush cricket; Bombus rupestris, a cuckoo bee; Osmia bicolor, a mason bee; Nysson dimidiatus, Small Spurred digger wasp; Anacaena bipustulata a water beetle; Boarmia roboraria, great oak beauty; Cucullia absinthii , wormwood; Hypena rostralis, buttoned snout; Ilybius fenestratus, a water beetle; Chlaenius nigricans, a ground beetle; Parascotia fuliginaria , waved black moth; Priocnemis agilis, spider-hunter wasp; Andrena bimaculata, a solitary bee; Lasioglossum malachurum, a mining bee; Lasioglossum xanthopum, a mining bee; Arachnospila minutula, a spider-hunting wasp; Anoplius caviventris, a spider-hunting wasp; Ectemnius sexcinctus, a digger wasp; Pemphredon morio, a solitary wasp; Nysson trimaculatus, yellow and black cuckoo wasp; Nysson dimidiatus, a cleptoparasitic digger wasp; Sphecodes crassus, a cleptoparasitic bee; Sesia apiformis, hornet moth; Sitochroa palealis, a pyralid moth, Sympetrumsanguineum , ruddy darter.
Birds of Conservation Concern:
Red List, Total 6: Lesser spotted woodpecker, yellowhammer, grasshopper warbler, marsh tit, house sparrow, starling.
Amber List, Total 32:Teal, shoveler, wigeon, gadwall, pochard, goldeneye, lesser redpoll, stock dove, mute swan, house martin, kestrel, swallow, herring gull, common gull, lesser black-backed gull, black-headed gull, grey wagtail, yellow wagtail, redstart, willow warbler, dunnock, water rail, goldcrest, sand martin, woodcock, redshank, lapwing, cuckoo, cormorant, green woodpecker, mistle thrush, goldfinch.
Nationally Scarce plants, Total 2: Loddon Lily; Aloina ambigua, a moss;.
Local invertebrates: at least 76 species. Marbled white
Local plants (on search list for the Oxfordshire Rare Plants Register), Total 15: cyperus sedge, brookweed, lesser pondweed, rat’s-tail fescue, sweet flag, grey clubrush, ferngrass, slender thistle, common cudweed, wild liquorice, lesser centaury, marsh helleborine, southern marsh orchid, early marsh orchid, water violet.
Stoneworts - Chara contraria, C. vulgaris and C. virgata (all Chara spp. in Oxfordshire should be considered locally rare or scarce - N. Stewart, national recorder, pers. com.)
Aquatic plant species: Curled pondweed, fennel pondweed, common duckweed,ivy-leaved duckweed, Nuttal’s pondweed, spiked-water milfoil, water starwort sp.
(already listed: opposite-leaved pondweed, lesser pondweed.)
Typical wetland species: water mint, common marsh-bedstraw, common reed, marsh horsetail, water plantain, fool’s watercress, reed sweetgrass, reed canary grass, upright bur-reed, common clubrush, gipsywort, purple loosestrife, meadowsweet, meadow rue, marsh woundwort, water figwort, brooklime, blue water speedwell, wild angelica, fleabane, celery-leaved water-crowfoot, water forget-me-not, lesser water parsnip, common valerian, hemp agrimony, common skullcap, yellow flag, amphibious bistort, hoary willowherb, common spike-rush, hard rush, soft rush, toad rush, jointed rush, osier, almond willow, grey willow, goat willow, crack willow, aspen, grey poplar, white poplar, greater pond sedge, brown sedge, slender tufted sedge, false fox sedge and common reedmace.
(already listed above: cyperus sedge, water violet, round-fruited rush, grey clubrush, Loddon lily, marsh helleborine, southern marsh orchid, early marsh orchid,)
PRESENT USE AND MANAGEMENT OF SITE
Nature reserve, landfill, operational.
HABITATS ON SITE / ADJACENT LAND USE/ HABITAT / BOUNDARIES TO SITE
Mesotrophic standing water
Eutrophic standing water
Reedbed
Wet woodland (fragments)
Scrub
Fen (fragments)
Tall herb
Semi-improved calcareous grassland / Urban
Permanent pasture / River
Hedgerows
Ditch.

SITE DESCRIPTION

This large site is a series of former gravel workings and adjacent areas on the flood plain of the River Thames. Some of the pits have been filled with landfill or pulverized fuel ash (PFA), while others remain unfilled. Some of the area is still in commercial use, some is restored (including parts with a strong emphasis on wildlife), and some has been left to be colonised naturally.

A number of water bodies are present, some long established with low conductivity levels (Lakes E and F) and high biodiversity interest. Others have slightly higher conductivity levels (Lake M) and some much higher levels (Longmead). Some of the water bodies are being used, for instance for gravel washing or as settling ponds for water from the PFA areas. The emergent and aquatic plants are varied, as are the invertebrates.

Some parts of the filled areas have been covered with topsoil and some of these planted; however large areas have been left to be colonised naturally. Areas developed for wildlife contain scrapes with islands and plant introductions. Hedges, ditches, a cycle track and a disused railway track divide the site.

There is a variety of terrestrial habitats, with large areas of open ground, grassland, scrub, sedgebed and reedbed, and small areas of fen and wet woodland. The open ground includes freely drained and waterlogged areas, with a wide variety of ruderal species, both native and introduced. The grassland is recent, and lies over former arable or gravel areas. It contains species which prefer neutral to calcareous and ungrazed conditions. The scrub is mostly over landfill and is composed of hawthorn and bramble with introduced species such as buddleia. The sedge beds are species rich and include many young willows.

Compartment 1. Barton Fields 8.27 ha

This area has not been extracted for gravel; it lies between the River Thames and the bicycle track. It is probably former arable now dominated by coarse grasses (mostly tall oat grass) and willowherb managed by cutting. The grassland has a few unusual herbs, such as rough hawk’s beard, and several species have been planted - common knapweed, meadow crane’s-bill, and great burnet were introduced in 2005, and cowslip and yellow rattle were introduced2004-5 (D Guyoncourt pers. comm.). There is abundant common comfrey which supports scarlet tiger moth (also present in compartments 6/7). The ditches are quite rich with adder’s tongue, meadow rue and water violet (16). At the western end of Barton Fields is a small area of willow carr with crack willow, lesser water parsnip, orange balsam and stinking iris. The undisturbed conditions are good for birds and mammals; badger are using the area (D Guyoncourt pers. comm.; the discovery of a hedgehog skin (17)). Also found here is the bracket fungus which supports the rare waved black moth.

UKBAP species: water vole 1998-2000 (18).

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Schedule 5: Common frog (17).

Badger Act: Badger

BAP/ red list species: Bullfinch, linnet, reed bunting, song thrush, black-headed gull (all 10).

Amber List: Cuckoo, dunnock, goldcrest, green woodpecker, grey wagtail, house martin, kestrel, kingfisher, mistle thrush, mute swan, snipe, water rail, willow warbler (all 10).

RDB2: Antichaeta brevipennis, a snail-killing fly (7).

Notable: Anagnota bicolour, a fly (7); Chlorops laetus, a fly (7);

Notable a: Conocephalus discolor, Long-winged conehead (7); Nomada ferruginata a cuckoo bee (5); Priocnemis coriacea, a spider-hunting wasp (5); Hylaeus cornutus, a bee (5); Andrena fulvago, a solitary bee (5); Andrena labiata, a bee (5); Lasioglossum pauxillum, a mining bee (5); Sphecodes longulus, a cuckoo bee (5); Nomada fucata, a cleptoparasitic bee (5);

Notable b:Sitochroa palealis, a pyralid moth,Parascotia fuliginaria,waved black moth (both RMG Eeles pers. com.); Andrena bimaculata, a solitary bee (5); Lasioglossum xanthopum, a mining bee (5); Lasioglossum malachurua, a mining bee (5, 7) ; Bombus rupestris, a cuckoo bee (5)

Local invertebrates: 13 aculeate hymenoptera (5).

Local plants: Water violet (16).

Compartment 2. Longmead 4.58 ha

This area had the top soil scraped off and has recently had scrapes with islands created. It is currently very disturbed but common terns are nesting and the water has aquatics including lesser pond weed and Chara sp. Wetland species include meadow rue, Gipsywort, purple loosestrife and square-stemmed St John’s-wort, common spotted orchid and a Dactylorhiza sp. orchid, probably southern marsh orchid. The conductivity is high (790 micro Siemens/cm, (4)). There has been little survey in this compartment.

Areas south of Longmead are in set aside and the ditches support water voles and water shrews. The ditches are not particularly species rich for plants due to the dominance of dense reed sweet grass.

UKBAP Priority Habitat: Eutrophic standing water.

UKBAP species: Water vole (mostly in ditches south of site), harvest mouse.

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Schedule 1: Cetti’s warbler

Local plants: Lesser pondweed, Chara sp.

Compartment 3. Former pit, landfilled 10.87 ha

This is an area of uneven waste ground. One large pond is present with good marginal vegetation and clear water, and there are two substantial ponds with fringing vegetation of grey willow and reeds. These ponds had no visible aquatic plants, and the water was cloudy and shaded. Reeds were invading parts of the water. Two smaller damp areas are present. The area is mostly grassy with extensive scrub (hawthorn, bramble and buddleia). Some reptiles and many grasshoppers and varied hymenoptera are associated with this compartment. Bird data has not been collected. Plants include some unusual species, including white helleborine (on the edge of compartment 3 and 6) and plants typical of calcareous soils, such as pyramidal orchid, and many introduced species such as Michaelmas daisy. The open areas support annuals such as common cudweed and sharp-leaved fluellen.

UKBAP Priority Habitat: Eutrophic standing water.

UK BAP Species:great crested newt (4).

RDB3:Meloe rugosus, an oil beetle; Cerceris qunquefasciata, 5 banded-tail digger wasp; Sphecodes niger; a cuckoo bee, Stelis ornatula, a bee (4).

PRDB4: Philanthus triangulum, a bee (4)

Nationally Scarce Notable a: Nomada fucata, a cleptoparasitic bee; Lasioglossum pauxillum, a mining bee (4).

Notable b: Anoplius caviventris, a spider-hunting wasp (4): Pemphredon morio, a solitary wasp (4); Nysson trimaculatus, yellow and black cuckoo wasp (4); Nysson dimidiatus, a cleptoparasitic digger wasp (4); Priocnemis agilis, spider-hunter wasp; Sphecodes crassus, a cleptoparasitic bee(4); Trichoniscoides albidus, a woodlouse (11).

Local invertebrates: 26 species (4) and 8 species (11).

Compartment 4. private houses and gardens

Not surveyed – this is proposed for exclusion.

Compartment 5. Lake M. 18.06 ha

The north western corner (Anderson’s Copse) consists of mature wet woodland – ash, crack willow, with the rare Loddon lily. Tawny owl and waved black moth have also been recorded (RMG Eeles pers. comm.).

Lake M was extracted for gravel and has shelving banks. The water is clear. It now provides a good habitat with spiked water-milfoil, Elodea sp. and algae. The north west part of M is seasonally wet with extensive common reed, young grey willow, with some unusual species along the margins such as common spike rush, grey club-rush and sneezewort.

West and south of Lake M is an extensive area of sedge beds with developing willow scrub. The flora is rich with sneezewort, southern marsh orchid, meadow rue, cyperus sedge, brown sedge, glaucous sedge and slender tufted sedge. There is one large black poplar.