Harptree Combe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Harptree Combe
(grid reference ST561558)
District	Bath and North East Somerset
Location	Somerset, UK

Harptree Combe (grid reference ST561558) is a 13.071 hectare (32.29 acre) Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) near East Harptree notified in 1954. "Combe" or "coombe" is a West Country word meaning a steep-sided valley.

Appleyard's Feather-moss (Brachythecium appleyardiae) was described as new to science from this site in 1981, although doubt has been cast on the validity of the species as a result of genetic evidence published in 2005 which suggests that this moss is in fact a member of the widespread moss species, Scleropodium cespitans.^[1]

Grassy clearings within the combe are the only site in Avon where the nationally scarce Spreading Bellflower Campanula patula is found. The species was first found here in 1829 (Myles 2000).

Harptree Combe is a narrow limestone gorge containing a variety of habitats, including Ash woodland, rough grassland, natural and artificial rock faces, and a small, marshy stream. The valley wood has been identified as an ancient woodland site, rich in tree and shrub species, and with a ground flora containing plants such as Herb Paris, (Paris quadrifolia), indicative of such undisturbed habitats. Several other uncommon or local plants, such as Small Teasel, (Dipsacus pilosus) and Autumn Crocus, (Colchicum autumnale), also occur. The limestone rock exposures and aqueduct walls are location for many species of moss and fern, some of which, eg Rusty Beard-moss (Didymodon ferrugineus previously known as Barbula reflexa), Brown Beard-moss (Didymodon spadiceus previously known as Barbula spadicea) and Brittle Bladder-fern (Cystopteris fragilis), are rare in Southern England.^[2]

[edit] References

• Myles, Sarah L. (ed.) (2000) The Flora of the Bristol Region Pisces Publications

Biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Avon

Ashton Court • Avon Gorge • Banwell Caves • Biddle Street, Yatton • Bishop's Hill Wood • Blagdon Lake • Bodkin Hazel Wood • Brockley Hall Stables • Brown's Folly • Burledge Sidelands and Meadows • Burrington Combe • Chew Valley Lake • Cleaves Wood • Cleeve Wood, Hanham • Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines • Compton Martin Ochre Mine • Congrove Field and The Tumps • Dolebury Warren • Ellenborough Park West • Folly Farm • Goblin Combe • Gordano Valley • Harptree Combe • Hawkesbury Meadow • Hinton Charterhouse Field • Horseshoe Bend, Shirehampton • Iford Manor • King's Wood and Urchin Wood • Long Dole Wood and Meadows • Lower Woods • Max Bog • Middle Hope • Midger • Monkswood Valley • Plaster's Green Meadows • Purn Hill • Puxton Moor • Severn Estuary • Shiplate Slait • St. Catherine's Valley • Steep Holm • Tickenham, Nailsea and Kenn Moors • Uphill Cliff • Upton Coombe • Walton Common • Weston Big Wood  • Yanal Bog Neighbouring areas: Gloucestershire • Somerset • Wiltshire