Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

This section of Yeading Brook riverside walk comprises the brook and riparian habitats, and adjacent areas of rough grassland and native hedgerow. To the east, alongside field end recreation ground, the river runs through a densely vegetated cutting, particularly deep and steep on the south side due to landfill, and likely to provide a low disturbance environment for birds and mammals. Field End recreation ground has a large area of rough grassland, dominated by perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne), to the north, and native trees and scrub along significant lengths of its margins. To the west of Field End Road, curled pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) and a water crowfoot (Ranunculus sp.) occur in the river, where small fish can be seen. Aspen (Populus tremula), crack willow (Salix fragilis) and pedunculate oak trees (Quercus robur) grow along the river banks. Decaying crack willow trunks are likely to provide habitats for saproxylic invertebrates. The nationally notable leaf-beetle Chrysolina oricalcia feeds on the flowers of cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), and the high insect diversity along the riverside also includes numerous solitary bees and hoverflies. Rough grassland areas along the river corridor support a range of wild flowers including hoary cress (Lepidium draba), bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and red clover (Trifolium pratense). The site also includes an area of grassland in Bridgewater Road open space, dominated by tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa). The site is freely accessible to the public and there are footpaths on both sides of the river along much of this stretch of river corridor.