Long Lye

Infobox SSSI


name=Long Lye
aos=Somerset
interest=Biological
gridref=gbmappingsmall|ST265122
area=11.7 hectare (29.0 acre)
notifydate=1988

http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?
]

Long Lye (gbmapping|ST265122) is a 11.7 hectare (29.0 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Blackdown Hills, Somerset, notified in 1988.This site along with the adjoining Long Lye Meadow were considered to be under threat from a scheme to widen the A303. [cite web | title= Victory as Government backs downover Blackdown Hills | work=Friends of the Earth | url=http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/transport/success_stories/blackdown_hills.html | accessdate=2006-08-17]

Long Lye is a traditionally managed neutral grassland of a type which was once characteristic of lowland Britain but has now become increasingly rare due to agricultural intensification. Mature broadleaved woodland and wet flush communities add considerable diversity to this site. Fifteen species of butterfly have been recorded here. They include the Silver-washed Fritillary ("Argynnis paphia"), of which the valenzia form has been found, Purple Hairstreak ("Quercusia quercus") and Marbled White ("Melanargia golathea"). [cite web | title=Long Lye | work=English Nature | url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003226.pdf | accessdate=2006-08-17]

References