APPENDIX 8A - National Infrastructure Planning

County Wildlife Site
(Ref No: 390)
Site Name: West Winch Common Parish: West Winch
Grid Reference: TF 628147 Area: 89.5 ha
Site Description:
This extensive site occupies the fenland edge. It comprises a large area of well-grazed neutral
grassland crossed with frequent hedge-lined dykes. The grassland is drier to the north and
possibly semi-improved, but damper and unimproved to the south with frequent damp hollows and
occasional standing water. The sward does not appear to be particularly diverse being generally
dominated by a few grass species although there is much local micro-topographical variation and
a good scrub-grassland matrix in places.
Semi-improved and unimproved neutral grassland is the dominant habitat throughout the site. The
sward was well grazed at the time of survey. Dominant grasses include perennial rye-grass
(Lolium perenne), yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus), common bent (Agrostis capillaris) with
frequent crested dog's-tail (Cynosurus cristatus), timothy (Phleum pratense) and creeping bent
(Agrostis stolonifera). Annual meadow-grass occurs on patches of bare ground, while cock's-foot
(Dactylis glomerata) is present in less heavily grazed areas. Herbaceous species include common
sorrel (Rumex acetosa), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), common mouse-ear (Cerastium fontanum)
and white clover (Trifolium repens). Where scrub is present, ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
and dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis) are found underneath. Thistle (Cirsium spp.) and
common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) are present on drier banks with silverweed (Potentilla
anserina), lesser spearwort (Ranunculus flammula), marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre) and redshank
(Polygonum persicaria) restricted to damper hollows, largely in the south where occasional pools
are present. Here the main drain held water at the time of survey although the majority of the
remainder were dry, although supporting a marginal flora of soft rush (Juncus effusus), compact
rush (Juncus conglomeratus), common reed (Phragmites australis), sweet-grass (Glyceria spp.)
and fool's water-cress (Apium nodiflorum). The dykes are in places lined by hawthorn (Crataegus
monogyna).
Hedges and scrub is frequent across the site although particularly dense along the north east
boundary where species include hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa),
elder (Sambucus nigra) and young oak (Quercus robur) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior). Clumps of
bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.) are frequent. Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is present in the south
where it is heavily grazed, assuming a prostrate form, and ungrazed in the north east.
The site has a varied microtopography with numerous hollows and old drains particularly in the
south. Poaching is frequent in the damper areas and the abundance of perennial rye-grass (Lolium
perenne) in the north suggests semi-improvement.
Survey date: 1994