Windsor Hill Marsh

Infobox SSSI


name=Windsor Hill Marsh
aos=Somerset
interest=Biological
gridref=gbmappingsmall|ST619454
area=0.84 hectare
notifydate=1972

http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?
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Windsor Hill Marsh (gbmapping|ST619454) is a 0.84 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest, north of the town of Shepton Mallet in Somerset, notified in January 1972.

Windsor Hill Marsh is a marshy silted pond, with adjacent damp, slightly acidic grassland. Adjoining the marsh are a limestone bank, and a short stream which flows into a swallet

Biological interest

The site is of interest for its diverse flora, in large part down to the varied habitats present within the small area. English Nature's SSSI citation sheet states that 114 species have been found at the site. Two species are present which are rare in Somerset: Flat-sedge ("Blysmus compressus") and Slender Spike-rush ("Eleocharis uniglumis"). Flat-sedge was discovered here in 1946 by Humphry Bowen. This species occurs at no other site in Somerset. Slender Spike-rush was discovered in 1972 by Florence Gravestock, and is only found at one other site in Somerset, West Sedgemoor. Both species were still present in 2004. Other marshland plants found here include Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Flag ("Iris pseudacorus"), Hard Rush ("Juncus inflexus"), Soft Rush ("J. effusus"), Flowering Rush ("Butomus umbellatus"), Devil’s-bit Scabious ("Succisa pratensis"), three species of Horsetail "Equisetum" spp. and seven sedges "Carex" spp.

ources

* [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1001243.pdf English Nature citation sheet for the site] (accessed 25 July 2006)
* Green, Paul (2004) "Local Meetings 2004: Windsor Hill Marsh and Ham Woods, Shepton Mallet, 31st July" "Wild Flower Society Magazine" (Spring 2005) p38 [http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/wfsoc/wfs_reports/2004/2004_windsor_hill_shepton_mallet_31_july_report.htm Online version]
* Green, Paul R., Ian P. Green and Geraldine A. Crouch (1997) "The Atlas Flora of Somerset" ISBN 0-9531324-0-4

External links

* [http://www.english-nature.org.uk English Nature website (SSSI information)]
* [http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?
]