Overhall Grove
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL338630 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 17.43 | 2024-03-20 |
Description
Area, 17.7 hectares 43.7 ac Description Overhall Grove is an ancient secondary woodland now dominated by small leaved elm Ulmus minor and represents a woodland type which is nationally restricted in its distribution. The wood overlies the site, fields and ponds of a medieval manor house and was well established by 1650. This break, or discontinuity, in tree cover with no primary woodland nucleus remaining has resulted in a classic example of the long lasting effects on the ground flora of the removal of woodland cover. The woodland that had developed by the end of the 17th Century was oak over ash coppice with standards and was planted with elm when coppice management declined. Elm has developed by suckering and is now dominant as massive standards with oak and ash. The site lies on moderately steep slopes with heavy clay soils throughout. The woodland ground flora is dominated by stinging nettle Urtica dioica, ground ivy Glechoma hederacea, cleavers Galium aparine, hogweed Heracleum sphondylium and rough stalked meadow grass Poa trivialis. Rides, clearings, ponds and a meandering stream provide additional habitats of general value. Re presentation of details approved by Council. Re typed July 1998.
Species mentioned
Show the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rough meadow grass | Poa trivialis | LC | grass | poaceae |
| goosegrass | Galium aparine | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| ground ivy | Glechoma hederacea | LC | herb | lamiaceae |
| hogweed | Heracleum sphondylium | CR(PE) | herb | apiaceae |
| nettle | Urtica dioica | LC | herb | urticaceae |
| small leaved elm | Ulmus minor | LC | tree | ulmaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Ulmus spp. |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Ulmus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Ulmus spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Heracleum sphondylium |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Ulmus spp. |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Ulmus spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Urtica dioica |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Urtica dioica |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Poa spp. |
| Brindled ochre Dasypolia templi |
Near Threatened | Heracleum sphondylium |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Ulmus spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| White-spotted pug Eupithecia tripunctaria |
Near Threatened | Heracleum sphondylium |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Ulmus spp. |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium spp., Glechoma hederacea |
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
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina
A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans
A18 — Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus fluitans community
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa