Burton Bushes SSSI (Ecosytems Case Study)

Created by: Bethany
Created on: 23-12-13 15:37

View mindmap

Burton Bushes SSSI Case Study
- Location
  - Beverley, East Yorkshire (a small market town)
    - Burton Bushes is located on Beverley Westwood, a 600 acre pastureland. Burton Bushes itself is 26 acres.
- What is Burton Bushes and why is it a SSSI?
  - Site Special Scientific interest - legal protection of flora (and fauna, but not as relevant in this case)
    - Prevents people planting bulbs in the Primary Woodland and disrupting the natural succession. This is vital as well-meaning people had previously planted daffodil bulbs that would not normally be found.
  - Burton Bushes is a fragment of disputed Primary Woodland. The whole of the Beverley Westwood would have once looked like Burton Bushes does now.
    - A study by Boatmen (the Beverley Civic Society) in 1971 found out that records of Burton Bushes dated back 250 years.
    - Temperate deciduous woodland (roughly 50% Oak Trees in 1971)
  - Species that indicate a 'Primary' Woodland
    - Bluebells
    - Wood Anemone
    - Wood Sorrell
    - Enchanter's nightshade
- Management of Burton Bushes
  - Managed by pasture masters, who are freemen of Beverley, in partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Natural England.
    - Yearly report on the condition of the Primary Woodland. At last inspection everything was as it should be.
  - What has been done so far?
    - Removal of invasive sycamore trees, which are not naturally found in the woodland
      - These trees were harming the delicate balance of the primary woodland, and threatening native species.
    - Fencing off of Burton Bushes
      - Prevent the access and trampling by cattle from the Westwood.
        These were causing issues as the cattle were trampling the delicate flora on the forest floor and disrupting the primary woodland
        
        Dung was also causing unnatural fertilisation
- How successful is the Burton Bushes SSSI?
  - Very successful as...
    - Removal of sycamores preventing species becoming invasive.
    - Fencing off of cattle resulted in increases in species indicative of Primary woodland
    - Management is very cheap. Little intervention is needed.
  - BUT...
    - People still enjoy the area. They trample some of the ground and field layers.
    - Clumps of daffodils (not normally found here) have been removed due to aesthetic value.
  - So overall..
    - A successful compromise. Allows people to enjoy the area for recreational purposes, whilst protecting its fragile ecosystem
    - The SSSI's preservation is probably helped by its location. As it is outside of the town, footfall (and consequently litter and vandalism) is not as great.