Whitton Bridge Pasture

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Whitton Bridge Pasture

Area of Search	Cleveland
Grid Reference	NZ385222
Interest	Biological
Area	3.2 hectares (7.9 acres)
Notification	2004
Location Map	English Nature

Whitton Bridge Pasture is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the unitary authority of Stockton-on-Tees, England. The site is 3.18 hectares (7.9 acres) and lies to the south of the village of Whitton. It was notified in 2004 for its biological interest, which is primarily due to its species rich mesotrophic grassland. This includes grasses, herbs and Orchids.

1 Reason for Notification
2 Site Description
- 2.1 Topography
- 2.2 Biology
3 References

[edit] Reason for Notification

The site is nationally important for its species-rich grassland which is unimproved by fertilisers. This type of grassland - once common in the Tees lowland - is becoming increasingly rare, with Whitton Bridge pasture being only one of two remaining examples of this habitat in the surrounding area. The other example is Briarcroft Pasture an SSSI approximately 3 km south of Whitton Bridge Pasture.

Under the British National Vegetation Classification, Whitton Bridge pasture has been designated as a mesotrophic grassland. In this group it has been given the MG5 classification due to it being a well-drained, permanent pasture.

[edit] Site Description

[edit] Topography

Located 500 meters south of the village of Whitton in Stockton-on-Tees unitary authority, Whitton Bridge Pasture is a small site lying between a sewage works and Whitton Beck. Topographically the site slopes north towards the stream from a height of 40 m to under 30 m. The underlying geology of Whitton Bridge pasture is responsible for shaping the species-rich grassland communinty found on the surface. Glacial tills and sands are the prominent geological features which have resulted in a relatively base-poor soil, characteristic of glacial drift geology.

[edit] Biology

The moajority of the site is made up of species-rich grassland which has roughly four dominant species of grass while others are present in smaller quantities. The dominant species are Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Common Bent (Agrostis capillaris) and Yorkshire Fog (Holcus lanatus). Less abundant species of grass include, Crested Dog’s-tail (Cynosurus cristatus), Heath-grass (Danthonia decumbens) and Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata). The site also contains Meadow barley (Hordeum secalinum) a characteristic species for the Tees Lowland.

The species rich grassland, which forms a belt across the site, turns into a community dominated by False Oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) towards the north. The False Oat-grass is growing on alluvial soils located at the northern edge which have been formed by the nearby stream.