Northern Stream Carr Survey

Introduction

This report gives the results of a descriptive plant survey of a small wet woodland in the Woodland Education Centre (map).   The survey was carried out in October 2001.  Four different areas were identified within this small wet woodland.  The report describes the areas and gives plant species lists for three of them.  These illustrate the types of plants which may be found in a wet woodland in South West England.

A  carr  is a type of  woodland which  develops on wet  land.  Typically this happens at the edge of wetlands where sediment is being trapped by wetland plants.This has the effect of raising the land above the water level to the point where tree seedlings can develop and survive.  Trees that can tolerate  such conditions include Alder (Alnus) and Willow (Salix).

The Northern Stream Carr was originally dominated by non-native rhododendron. The rhododendron has been cleared and controlled, beginning in 1990. At that time the only plants to have survived among the thick rhododendron cover were many tall, thin willow, alder, oak and birch trees. 

Image26.jpg (56496 bytes) The area descriptions and plant species lists are presented in the order of the route marked on the diagram (left).

As a walk, starting at the southern end of the Boggy Footpath and walking north-eastward towards the log-cabin,  the trees are about 10 feet (2.5 m) apart, mostly alder and willow, with more birch as the ground rises.  During October, the ground was dominated by bracken and ferns with a variety of other plants, listed on the Boggy Path species list.

The boggy path ends at the bottom of a slope leading up to the Leat Footpath , for which there is a separate plant list.

The carr is bounded to the East by a leat with, running along its western bank,  the Leat Footpath (a good corridor for  dragonflies and butterflies).

The Southern boundary of the site, the Steep Southern Area, slopes steeply down from this path to the wettest area through which runs the path referred to as the Boggy Footpath.  To the West, a stream forms the boundary.

    Follow the route marked on the diagram.  Boggy Footpath description and species list here.

 

 

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