Ecologists from NatureBureau International, based in Newbury, were out in all weathers this winter searching for and recording some of the tiniest plants in the world on Greenham Common.
They were delighted to spot a locally rare species of moss previously thought to have disappeared from this area. Greenham Common now has the largest remaining population in Berkshire. At only 5mm wide - about a quarter the size of a penny – this minute plant is easily overlooked.
‘We recorded over 100 different mosses on Greenham Common, which emphasises how important and diverse this site is for wildlife’ said NatureBureau International’s ecologist Tom Haynes. ‘We also found an invasive species of liverwort, which may, if left unchecked, take over bare open soil required by other native species.’
In ancient times, it was believed that liverworts cured diseases of the liver, hence the name. In Old English, the word liverwort literally means liver plant.
Mosses and lichens often live in micro-habitats such as tree trunks, bare soil and certain types of stone. They are very sensitive to pollution or any changes in climate or management.
Greenham, along with Crookham Common, is regarded as one of the most important places for these often overlooked plants, and is one of the main reasons why the area is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
‘Management of mosses and lichens is very important on sites such as Greenham, where large-scale changes can affect many of these smaller species. Many people don’t even know they are there’ said Tom. ‘Greenham Common has seen considerable changes in management and usage in the past 15 years. This project allowed us to see what effect these changes have had on the heathland’.
The results from the project have now been handed over to West Berkshire Council to help protect these species into the future. Simon Barnett of West Berkshire Council said ‘The project has provided us with invaluable information about the species of bryophyte and lichen present on the common , their distribution, importance and previous extent. This will help guide and inform our management and ensure that the diverse range of species present on the common are protected and continue to thrive. Management that will benefit bryophytes and lichens will be made wherever possible. It has also alerted us to the fact that we have a fairly aggressive invasive species on the common that will require control.’
This project was designed by NatureBureau Projects and undertaken with funding support from Natural England’s Sustainable Aggregate Levy Fund, West Berkshire Council and The Greenham Common Trust.
They were delighted to spot a locally rare species of moss previously thought to have disappeared from this area. Greenham Common now has the largest remaining population in Berkshire. At only 5mm wide - about a quarter the size of a penny – this minute plant is easily overlooked.
‘We recorded over 100 different mosses on Greenham Common, which emphasises how important and diverse this site is for wildlife’ said NatureBureau International’s ecologist Tom Haynes. ‘We also found an invasive species of liverwort, which may, if left unchecked, take over bare open soil required by other native species.’
In ancient times, it was believed that liverworts cured diseases of the liver, hence the name. In Old English, the word liverwort literally means liver plant.
Mosses and lichens often live in micro-habitats such as tree trunks, bare soil and certain types of stone. They are very sensitive to pollution or any changes in climate or management.
Greenham, along with Crookham Common, is regarded as one of the most important places for these often overlooked plants, and is one of the main reasons why the area is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
‘Management of mosses and lichens is very important on sites such as Greenham, where large-scale changes can affect many of these smaller species. Many people don’t even know they are there’ said Tom. ‘Greenham Common has seen considerable changes in management and usage in the past 15 years. This project allowed us to see what effect these changes have had on the heathland’.
The results from the project have now been handed over to West Berkshire Council to help protect these species into the future. Simon Barnett of West Berkshire Council said ‘The project has provided us with invaluable information about the species of bryophyte and lichen present on the common , their distribution, importance and previous extent. This will help guide and inform our management and ensure that the diverse range of species present on the common are protected and continue to thrive. Management that will benefit bryophytes and lichens will be made wherever possible. It has also alerted us to the fact that we have a fairly aggressive invasive species on the common that will require control.’
This project was designed by NatureBureau Projects and undertaken with funding support from Natural England’s Sustainable Aggregate Levy Fund, West Berkshire Council and The Greenham Common Trust.
If you would like to know more about the project please contact us via our website: http://www.naturebureau.co.uk/
