Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

Old Pumping Station Field
Borough: Hillingdon
Grade: Borough Grade II
Access: No public access
Area: 2.18 ha

Description

The Old Pumping Station field is a large area of rich grassland bounded by hedgerows, immediately adjacent to Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve.

Wildlife

Grasses are dominated by false oat-grass and red fescue, along with soft brome, meadow barley, crested dog's-tail and tufted hair-grass. Wildflowers yellow rattle, red clover, common and tufted vetch, hairy tare and meadow vetchling, are all abundant. Also present are long-stalked cranesbill, greater stitchwort and common knapweed. Greater bird's-foot-trefoil grows in a seasonally damp area, with lesser spearwort. Pedunculate oaks grow in the hedges along with grey willow, bramble, field rose and dog rose.The entire site is particularly rich in insects, and notable for the abundance of ringlet butterflies throughout July. Common blue, large skipper and meadow brown also fly here along with the narrow-bordered five-spot burnet moth, which flies in the daytime. The numerous predatory robber-flies are indicative of the wide range of insects here.The site is also valuable for reptiles.

Facilities

No information available
Meadow vetchling © London Wildlife Trust

Meadow vetchling © London Wildlife Trust

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