Stratford-on-Avon District Council

Ecological and Geological Study of Local Service Villages

Settlement Assessment: Quinton (Lower)

Designated sites:

None Key Target Notes

SP14y1 – Lower Quinton churchyard

SP14y7 – Species rich hedgerow

Habitat Description

Overall Quinton has a low high distinctiveness score with the main habitats being broad-leaved woodland with linear trees and hedgerows the main habitat features.

The remainder of the settlement area is predominantly agricultural and amenity grassland.

Distinctiveness Phase 1 habitats No. of sites Area in hectares

Score

High

A111 Broad-leaved semi-natural woodland 7 1.23 21 A5 Orchard (commercial) 2 1.21 6 B22 Semi-improved neutral grassland 3 0.33 9 G1 Standing water 5 0.21 15

Sub Total 17 2.98 51

Moderate

A112 Broad-leaved plantation 3 0.64 6 B6 Semi-improved neutral grassland 5 2.25 10 J112 Allotments 2 1.72 4

Sub Total 10 4.61 20

Low

B4 Improved grassland 37 111.77 37 C31 Tall ruderal 1 0.07 2 J11 Arable 30 179.36 30 J12 Amenity grassland 27 17.65 54

Sub Total 95 308.85 123

Totals 122 316.44 194

Geological Description

Quinton (Lower) has considerable potential for its early Jurassic geology (mainly the Charmouth Mudstone Formation), with potential for palaeontological finds. Any excavations into natural geology would be of potential interest for purposes of recording and/or museum collecting.

Protected Species

Grass snake, badger and hedgehog with the bat species of brown long-eared and common and soprano pipistrelle and an indeterminate bat species have been recorded in the settlement area. In the wider area there are additional records of water vole, brown hare, great crested newt and butterfly species of grizzled skipper and small heath plus additional bat records of daubenton, myotis sp., whiskered/brandts.

Recommendations for Further Survey

None

Stratford-on-Avon District Council Ecological Villages Study

Target Notes

Quinton (Lower)sp14y1 Lower Quinton churchyard mostly short and regularly mown with Poa spp.; Holcus lanatus;

Dactylis glomerata; and occasional Festuca rubra. Forbs include black medick; germander speedwell; rough hawk bit; creeping buttercup and occasional hop trefoil; selfheal; red and white clover and ribwort plantain. Uncut sections contain beaked hawksbeard; yarrow; Arrhenatherum elatius; Dactylis glomerata; Holcus lanatus and Poa trivialis. A spotted flycatcher was seen during the survey. UPDATED 22/05/2012 OP. Churchyard is mostly regularly mown apart from a small patch of semi improved neutral grassland with meadow butt, cowslip, germander speedwell, common vetch, tufted wood rush, red clover and ox-eye daisy.

SP14Y6 Road verge with creeping buttercup, creeping cinquefoil, black medick, red campion. Cow parsley is dominant.

SP14Y7 Species rich hedgerows in this area consist of hazel, hawthorn, ash, field maple, blackthorn and oak.

22 June 2012

HABITAT BIODIVERSITY AUDIT Warwickshire Historic and Natural Environment Barrack Street, Warwick CV34 4TH Email: HBA@warwickshire.gov.uk