Mappp.co - Gamston & Eaton Woods & Roadside Verges

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Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (4) Favourable (1)

Unit	Feature	Condition	Area (ha)	Assessed
SK723773	—	Unfavourable Recovering	0.9	2010-06-04
SK725772	—	Favourable	0.49	2010-06-18
SK726771	—	Unfavourable Recovering	0.64	2010-06-04
SK727767	—	Unfavourable Recovering	31.17	2010-08-26
SK727775	—	Unfavourable Recovering	23.95	2010-08-26

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Lowland meadow and pasture

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Triassic

Description

Area,57.5 ha142.1 ac Description The site comprises one of the best examples of an ash oak maple wood in Nottinghamshire and is representative of semi natural woodland developed on clay soils in Central and Eastern England. It is complemented by species rich roadside verges. A fine example of ash oak maple woodland developed primarily on soils derived from the Triassic Keuper Marl. Although the woodland structure has been modified by recent management the site is dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior and oak Quercus robur, with birch Betula pendula also common. The main constituents of the understorey are hazel Corylus avellana, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, privet Ligustrum vulgare, goat willow Salix caprea and field maple Acer campestre and there is a strong development of woody climbing and rambling plants, notably honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum, bramble Rubus fruticosus and rose Rose spp. The ground vegetation is characterised by the abundance of dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, wood meadow grass Poa nemoralis, wood avens Geum urbanum, sweet woodruff Galium odoratum, sanicle Sanicula europaea and primrose Primula veris, together with a variety of other plant species indicative of ancient woodland. The woodland rides have a well developed flora characteristic of heavy clay soils. Typical plants are meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum, creeping jenny L. nummularia, twayblade Neottia ovata and other woodland orchids. Additional interest is provided by the variety of the breeding bird community which utilises the site. To the west of East and Gamston Woods the roadside verges carry a grassland sward of unusual species richness. The sward varies in character, some areas being dominated by cock's foot Dactylis glomerata and false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius while others are dominated by sheep's fescue Festuca ovina or tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum. The fescue and tor grass swards have developed calcareous plant communities containing such herbs as saw wort Serratula tinctoria, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria, rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, great burnet saxifrage Pimpinella major and wild liquorice Astragalus glycyphyllos. These verges, botanically, are among the richest in Nottinghamshire and constitute a valuable breeding and feeding area for a variety of butterflies and other insects.

Species mentioned

Show the 31 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status

English name search for this in other sites	Latin name search with Google	IUCN / Red List	Type	Family
false oat grass	Arrhenatherum elatius	LC	grass	poaceae
tor grass	Brachypodium pinnatum	LC	grass	poaceae
cock's foot	Dactylis glomerata	LC	grass	poaceae
sheep's fescue	Festuca ovina	LC	grass	poaceae
wood meadow grass	Poa nemoralis	LC	grass	poaceae
wild liquorice	Astragalus glycyphyllos	NT	herb	fabaceae
black knapweed	Centaurea nigra	LC	herb	asteraceae
meadow sweet	Filipendula ulmaria	LC	herb	rosaceae
woodruff	Galium odoratum	LC	herb	rubiaceae
dyer's greenweed	Genista tinctoria	LC	herb	fabaceae
herb bennet	Geum urbanum	LC	herb	rosaceae
rock roses	Helianthemum nummularium	VU	herb	cistaceae
honeysuckle	Lonicera periclymenum	LC	herb	caprifoliaceae
birdsfoot trefoil	Lotus corniculatus	LC	herb	fabaceae
yellow pimpernel	Lysimachia nemorum	LC	herb	primulaceae
dog's mercury	Mercurialis perennis	LC	herb	euphorbiaceae
common twayblade	Neottia ovata	NT	herb	orchidaceae
greater burnet saxifrage	Pimpinella major	LC	herb	apiaceae
cowslip	Primula veris	LC	herb	primulaceae
bramble	Rubus fruticosus	LC	herb	rosaceae
sanicle	Sanicula europaea	LC	herb	apiaceae
saw wort	Serratula tinctoria	VU	herb	asteraceae
pepper saxifrage	Silaum silaus	EN	herb	saxifragaceae
hawthorn	Crataegus monogyna	LC	shrub	rosaceae
wild privet	Ligustrum vulgare	LC	shrub	oleaceae
field maple	Acer campestre	LC	tree	aceraceae
birch	Betula pendula	LC	tree	betulaceae
hazel	Corylus avellana	LC	tree	corylaceae
ash	Fraxinus excelsior	LC	tree	oleaceae
common oak	Quercus robur	LC	tree	fagaceae
goat willow	Salix caprea	LC	tree shrub	salicaceae

Insects to look out for

These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

Species	Status	Via host-plant
Reddish buff Acosmetia caliginosa	Critically Endangered	Serratula tinctoria
Black-veined moth Siona lineata	Critically Endangered	Centaurea nigra, Lotus corniculatus
New forest Zygaena viciae	Critically Endangered	Lotus corniculatus
Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria	Endangered	Lotus corniculatus
Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta	Endangered	Quercus robur
Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala	Endangered	Crataegus spp.
Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata	Endangered	Acer campestre
The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia	Endangered	Crataegus monogyna, Salix spp.
Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina	Endangered	Primula veris
Wood white Leptidea sinapis	Endangered	Lotus corniculatus
Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens	Endangered	Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Filipendula ulmaria, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Salix spp.
Slender scotch Zygaena loti	Endangered	Lotus corniculatus
Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis	Vulnerable	Crataegus spp., Lotus corniculatus, Salix caprea, Serratula tinctoria
Northern brown Aricia artaxerxes	Vulnerable	Helianthemum nummularium
The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx	Vulnerable	Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Broom moth Ceramica pisi	Vulnerable	Betula spp., Rubus fruticosus
Scarce chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta	Vulnerable	Salix spp.
Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria	Vulnerable	Acer campestre, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Lonicera periclymenum, Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Dingy skipper Erynnis tages	Vulnerable	Lotus corniculatus
Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia	Vulnerable	Lonicera periclymenum
Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata	Vulnerable	Centaurea spp., Filipendula ulmaria, Galium spp., Helianthemum nummularium, Salix spp.
Grayling Hipparchia semele	Vulnerable	Festuca ovina
Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii	Vulnerable	Galium spp.
White admiral Limenitis camilla	Vulnerable	Lonicera periclymenum
The lackey Malacosoma neustria	Vulnerable	Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Salix spp.
Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria	Vulnerable	Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Salix caprea
Silver studded blue Plebejus argus	Vulnerable	Helianthemum nummularium, Lotus corniculatus
Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae	Vulnerable	Geum urbanum, Rubus fruticosus
Lead belle Scotopteryx mucronata	Vulnerable	Genista tinctoria
Early moth Theria primaria	Vulnerable	Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi	Vulnerable	Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Salix spp.
Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria	Vulnerable	Betula pendula, Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola	Near Threatened	Betula spp., Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis	Near Threatened	Crataegus monogyna, Salix spp.
Grey chi Antitype chi	Near Threatened	Crataegus monogyna, Salix caprea
Large nutmeg Apamea anceps	Near Threatened	Dactylis glomerata
Purple emperor Apatura iris	Near Threatened	Salix caprea
Minor shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis	Near Threatened	Salix caprea
Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
The sallow Cirrhia icteritia	Near Threatened	Salix spp.
Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus	Near Threatened	Festuca spp., Poa spp.
Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia	Near Threatened	Salix caprea
Heart moth Dicycla oo	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
Kentish glory Endromis versicolora	Near Threatened	Betula pendula
Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria	Near Threatened	Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp.
September thorn Ennomos erosaria	Near Threatened	Betula spp., Quercus spp.
Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria	Near Threatened	Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa	Near Threatened	Betula spp., Festuca ovina, Galium spp.
Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata	Near Threatened	Centaurea spp., Crataegus monogyna, Salix spp.
Double dart Graphiphora augur	Near Threatened	Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma	Near Threatened	Festuca ovina
Silky wave Idaea dilutaria	Near Threatened	Helianthemum nummularium
Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae	Near Threatened	Centaurea nigra
Wall Lasiommata megera	Near Threatened	Dactylis glomerata
Rosy minor Litoligia literosa	Near Threatened	Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca ovina
The blackneck Lygephila pastinum	Near Threatened	Astragalus glycyphyllos, Astragalus spp.
Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis	Near Threatened	Quercus spp.
Common fan-foot Pechipogo strigilata	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
Frosted green Polyploca ridens	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata	Near Threatened	Galium spp.
White prominent Leucodonta bicoloria	Regionally Extinct	Betula spp.

Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Plant communities

MG4 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture

Alopecurus pratensis-Sanguisorba officinalis grassland

Matches 8 species from the description above: Arrhenatherum elatius, Centaurea nigra, Dactylis glomerata, Filipendula ulmaria, Lotus corniculatus, Primula veris, Serratula tinctoria, Silaum silaus

Show 71 indicator species

Carex acutiformis, Carex hirta, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium elatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Hypochaeris radicata, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Serratula tinctoria, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum arvense, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sepium, Fritillaria meleagris, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum flavum, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anglica, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Bromopsis erecta, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Chara curta

MG5 — Lowland meadow and pasture, Traditional orchard

Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra grassland

Matches 8 species from the description above: Arrhenatherum elatius, Centaurea nigra, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca ovina, Filipendula ulmaria, Lotus corniculatus, Primula veris, Silaum silaus

Show 81 indicator species

Carex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Knautia arvensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Colchicum autumnale, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla vestita, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Chara curta

MG8 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture

Cynosurus cristatus-Caltha palustris grassland

Matches 4 species from the description above: Centaurea nigra, Dactylis glomerata, Filipendula ulmaria, Lotus corniculatus

Show 70 indicator species

Carex demissa, Carex distans, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium rostratum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Achillea ptarmica, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum palustre, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Mentha aquatica, Euphrasia nemorosa, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Glyceria declinata, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Dryopteris expansa