Harptree Combe
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| Harptree Combe | |
|---|---|
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| Area of Search | Avon |
| Grid Reference | ST561558 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 13.1 hectares (32.3 acres) |
| Notification | 1954 |
| Location Map | English Nature |
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
- ^ Mrs. Appleyard's moss. ARKive. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.
- ^ Harptree Combe. English Nature. Retrieved on 2006-07-10.
Villages: Belluton | Bishop Sutton | Blagdon | Cameley | Chelwood | Chew Magna | Chew Stoke | Chewton Keynsham | Chewton Mendip | Clutton | Compton Dando | Compton Martin | East Harptree | High Littleton | Hinton Blewitt | Hunstrete | Keynsham | Litton | Marksbury | Nempnett Thrubwell | Norton Malreward | Pensford | Publow | Regil | Stanton Drew | Stowey | Temple Cloud | Ubley | West Harptree | Winford | Woollard
Reservoirs: Blagdon Lake | Chew Magna Reservoir | Chew Valley Lake | Litton Reservoirs
Rivers: River Chew | River Yeo
SSSIs: Barns Batch Spinney | Blagdon Lake | Burledge Hill | Chew Valley Lake | Compton Martin Ochre Mine | Dundry Main Road South Quarry | Emborough Quarries | Folly Farm | Harptree Combe | Hartcliff Rocks Quarry | Lamb Leer | Lulsgate Quarry | Plaster's Green Meadows | Wurt Pit and Devil's Punchbowl
Councils: Bath and North East Somerset | Mendip | North Somerset
Surrounding areas: Dundry Down | Lulsgate Plateau | Mendip Hills | Yeo Valley
Settlements: Ashwick | Axbridge | Banwell | Bishop Sutton | Blagdon | Bleadon | Burrington | Charterhouse | Cheddar | Chewton Mendip | Compton Bishop | Compton Martin | Cross | Draycott | East Harptree | Easton | Hinton Blewitt | Hutton | Leigh-on-Mendip | Litton | Oakhill | Priddy | Rodney Stoke | Rowberrow | Sandford | Shepton Mallet | Shipham | Ubley | Webbington | Wells | West Harptree | Westbury-sub-Mendip | Winscombe | Wookey Hole
Rivers and lakes: Blagdon Lake | Cheddar Reservoir | Chew Valley Lake | River Chew | River Yeo | Litton Reservoirs
Caves and gorges: Aveline's Hole | Axbridge Ochre Mine | Banwell Caves | Banwell Ochre Caves | Burrington Combe | Cheddar Gorge and Caves | Compton Martin Ochre Mine | Cox's cave | Eastwater Cavern | Ebbor Gorge | Fairy Cave Quarry | GB Cave | Goatchurch Cavern | Gough's Cave | Hunter`s Hole | Lamb Leer | Longwood Swallet | Manor Farm Swallet | Priddy Caves | Shatter Cave | Sidcot Swallet | St Cuthberts Swallet | St. Dunstan's Well Catchment | Stoke Lane Slocker | Swildon's Hole | Thrupe Lane Swallet | Tyning`s Barrow Swallet | Upper Flood Swallet | Wigmore Swallet | Wookey Hole Caves
Quarries: Barnclose Quarry | Batts Combe quarry | Callow Rock quarry | Cloford Quarry | Colemans quarry | Cook's Wood Quarry | Draycott Quarry | Dulcote quarry | Emborough Quarries | Fairy Cave Quarry | Gurney Slade quarry | Halecombe | Hobbs Quarry | Holwell Quarries | Moon's Hill Quarry | Shipham Quarry | Torr Works | Viaduct Quarry | Westbury Quarry | Whatley quarry | Windsor Hill Quarry |
SSSIs: Asham Wood | Axbridge Hill and Fry's Hill | Banwell Caves | Banwell Ochre Caves | Barns Batch Spinney | Blagdon Lake | Bleadon Hill | Brimble Pit and Cross Swallet Basins | Burledge Hill | Burrington Combe | Chancellor's Farm | Cheddar Complex | Cheddar Reservoir | Cheddar Wood | Chew Valley Lake | Cloford Quarry | Compton Martin Ochre Mine | Cook's Wood Quarry | Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill | Dolebury Warren | Draycott Sleights | Ebbor Gorge | Emborough Quarries | Harptree Combe | Hobbs Quarry | Holwell Quarries | Kingdown and Middledown | Lamb Leer | Priddy Caves | Priddy Pools | Perch | Rodney Stoke | St. Dunstan's Well Catchment | Sandpit Hole and Bishop's Lot | Shiplate Slait | Viaduct Quarry | Windsor Hill Quarry | Wurt Pit and Devil's Punchbowl
Councils: Bath and North East Somerset | Mendip | North Somerset | Sedgemoor
Surrounding areas: Chew Valley | Somerset Levels | North Somerset Levels
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