English Heritage Stonehenge Environmental Improvements Project ...

field. It comprised a range of typical arable weed species, including black bindweed Fallopia
convulvulus, shepherd’s purse Capsella bursa-pastoris, common fumitory Fumaria officinalis,
field and grey speedwell Veronica persica and polita, and can be referred to the NVC
community OV7 Veronica persica-Veronica polita field speedwell- grey speedwell community.
3.5.3 The crop within SW was more fully developed and as a consequence the arable weed flora
was very limited in extent and confined to small field margins and corners. It was broadly
similar in species composition to that within NW, although some species, such as black grass
Alopecurus myosuroides, cut-leaved crane’s-bill and ivy-leaved speedwell, that were absent
from NW were present in relative abundance in SW.
3.5.4 There is a recently planted relatively species-poor hedge dominated by hawthorn between the
field in SW and the adjoining road verges of the A360/B3086.
South Eastern and North Eastern Quadrants
3.5.5 SE and NE comprise very species-poor grasslands dominated by perennial rye-grass and
cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata respectively, which can be referred to the NVC community MG7
Lolium perenne-Trifolium repens perennial rye-grass-white clover grassland.
3.6 Site Z
Road verges
3.6.1 Grassy road verges are present on either side of the B3086 and the Packway that are broadly
similar in structure and species composition throughout. They are relatively species-poor NVC
community MG1 Arrhernatherum elatius false oat-grass grassland. Small amounts of scrub,
including bramble and blackthorn are also patchily present and trees have been planted on the
northern side of the Packway to the south of Rollestone Camp.
South Western and South Eastern Quadrants
3.6.2 SW and SE are arable fields with very similar arable weed floras, which were largely confined
to field margins and corners. The most abundant species throughout is cut-leaved crane’s-bill,
although a range of other species is present, including barren brome, cleavers Galium aparine,
thistles Cirsium spp., common poppy and knotgrass Polygonum aviculare. Of note was the
presence of a small population of the Red Data Book Near Threatened species dwarf spurge
Euphorbia exigua in the north western corner of NW.
September 2008 9 Phase II Botanical Surveys
11108605R_Botanical_DW_09-08
Chris Blandford Associates