A vegetation survey on the steep sides of the road cutting at Dinah’s Hollow on the 13 April 2023 recorded 60 plant species, sixteen of which are strongly associated with long-established or ancient woodland; four of the plants are Dorset Notable species.

The woodland strips fall within W8 Ash – Maple – Dog’s Mercury woodland in the National Vegetation Classification. Although wooded and with a good structure, the areas do not qualify as Lowland Mixed Deciduous Wood Priority Habitat and Section 41 Habitat as they are generally less than 15 metres wide.

A fungi survey was undertaken on the 25 October and 30 species were recorded, including several wood decay species mainly on Hazel. The number of species is limited by the lack of dead wood and the lack of true veteran trees.

Dinah’s Hollow is a road cutting just north of Melbury Abbas on the Shaftesbury to Blandford road. It cuts through the relatively soft Greensand geology, although on the west side of the cutting the stone was of sufficient quality to be quarried.

As a result of a series of small landslips there are plans to stabilise the banks. Dorset Council requested DERC to undertake a vegetation survey in spring and a fungi survey in autumn 2023 as part of a programme of ecological assessments for the site.

Map 1. Location map

Key: SSSI are shown in red, SNCI are shown in blue. The site is shown as an area of solid red.

 

The site was surveyed on the 13th April 2023 in bright weather between several short-lived showers. Because of the steepness of the slopes the survey was carried out by walking along the road and binoculars were used to survey areas that could not be reached for safety reasons. A description of the site was made and a species list with DAFOR frequencies compiled for each side of the cutting. The fungi survey was carried out on the 25th October 2023.

Plant names follow Stace (2018) and for bryophytes Blockeel et al (2020).

Map 2. Areas surveyed

 

Dinah’s Hollow (ST882204) lies to the north of Melbury Abbas on the road from Blandford to Shaftesbury. It is essentially a Holloway that has formed through erosion of the relatively soft Upper Greensand Formation, including the Shaftesbury Sandstone Member and Boyne Hollow Chert Member. In the upper part of the hollow on the west side there has been some minor quarrying of the better quality, harder bands of sandstone.

The steep banks of the cutting support linear strips of woodland with mature trees and shrubs. The mixture of trees including several non-natives suggest it formed part of a landscape planting. The area is marked as mixed planting on the 2nd Edition OS map. 

The sides of the cutting have a varied structure with older canopy trees, a locally dense understorey and a varied ground flora. A total of 60 plant species were recorded from two sides, sixteen of these are plants that are strongly associated with (though not confined to) long established or ancient woodland.  Four plants recorded are Dorset Notable species for woodland habitats (DERC, 2022).

The canopy comprises mature trees with Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur, Field Maple Acer campestre and Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus the most prominent species. Beech Fagus sylvatica, Scot’s Pine Pinus sylvestris and Norway Spruce Picea abies are rare, the last had to be felled for safety reasons. Beneath the larger trees young self-sown Sycamore are frequent. There is an understorey of frequent to abundant Hazel Corylus avellana with occasional to locally frequent Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and Holly Ilex aquifolium, plus smaller quantities of Elder Sambucus nigra and Blackthorn Prunus spinosa.

The ground flora is patchy due to a combination of land slippage on the steepest slopes and the shade cast by the trees and shrubs, particularly Sycamore and Holly. Hart’s-tongue Fern Asplenium scolopendrium, Soft Shield-fern Polystichum setiferum, Dog’s Mercury Mercurialis perennis, Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna and Ivy Hedera helix are generally the most abundant species, with Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica in disturbed areas near the road and old quarry, and there several large dense patches of Ramsons Allium ursinum at the southern end near Melbury Abbas. Other species are generally found in smaller quantity as scattered patches or clumps, including Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata, Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina, Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata, Wood Avens Geum urbanum, Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea, Nipplewort Lapsana communis, Rough Meadow-grass Poa trivialis and Bearded Couch Elymus caninus. The local Greater Chickweed Stellaria neglecta was noted in a patch towards the north of the area.

The steepest areas prone to slippage are generally bare except for a number of mosses including Atrichum undulatum, Bryum dichotomum, Dicranella varia agg., Fissidens bryoides and F. viridulus. 

The east side has a very similar flora. Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur and Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus are most frequent with smaller quantities of Ash Fraxinus excelsior and Field Maple Acer campestre, plus rare Grey Willow Salix cinerea, Hornbeam Carpinus betulinus and Common Lime Tilia x vulgaris. There is a well-developed understorey in places, with Hazel Corylus avellana and Holly Ilex aquifolium frequent to locally abundant, smaller quantities of Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, Blackthorn Prunus spinosa and Elder Sambucus nigra, plus some regrowth of English Elm Ulmus procera. 

The general flora is very similar to the west side and is patchy depending on light levels with bare areas present in the most shaded area and the steepest slopes where there has been some slippage. Ivy Hedera helix is frequent to abundant, and ferns abundant with Hart’s-tongue Fern Asplenium scolopendrium, Soft Shield-fern Polystichum setiferum and Male Fern Dryopteris filix-mas the most frequent, and smaller quantities of Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata and Scaly Male-fern Dryopteris affinis agg. A few plants of Lady Fern Athyrium filix-femina were noted on damper ground. At the southern end there is a dense patch of Ramsons Allium ursinum and Dog’s Mercury Mercurialis perennis forms patches along the top. Other species present include Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina, Wood Avens Geum urbanum, Herb Robert Geranium robertianum, Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata and Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta.

Bare ground supports a similar range of mosses to the west side, the thalloid liverwort Lunularia cruciata was on damp soil near the foot of the cutting.

The site was surveyed on the 25th October 2023 in bright weather. Because of the steepness of the slopes the survey was carried out by walking along the road and along the fenceline at the top of the slope accessing any flatter areas where safe to do so. Binoculars were used to survey mature trees that could not be reached for safety reasons on the very steep slopes. These were very slippery after the heavy rain of the previous few days.

Fungi were split into the following groups:

• Ecto-mycorrhizal species – species forming an association with certain trees
• Litter saprotrophs – species found on rotting leaves and twigs on the ground
• Deadwood saprotrophs – species found on larger pieces of dead rotting wood and stumps
• Epiphytes – crust-forming, small brackets and gilled found on living or dead standing trees & shrubs
• Large brackets – epiphytic brackets more than 10cm in diameter

A total of 30 species were recorded from the site, most of which are widespread species found in woodlands and older broadleaved plantations.

The mature trees supported very few bracket fungi although access was not easy and the trunks and major limbs had to be surveyed using binoculars due to limited access to the very steep slopes. Ganoderma australe was noted on the base of several old Hazel stools on the western side. Large dead Blackthorn stems support Phellinus pomaceus on both sides. Old standing dead and dying Hazel stems have frequent Hypoxylon fuscum and occasional Hymenochaete corrugata with Stereum rugosum noted on the east side. The agarics Mycena arcangeliana, M. galericulata and Pluteus cervinus were noted on rotting Hazel wood.

There are very few large pieces of dead wood on the ground as most is removed to prevent it falling onto the road below the steep banks, this limits the range of dead wood fungi present. Lycoperdon pyriforme was noted on stumps and Psathyrella piluliformis on rotting wood. Litter species were more frequent on rotting leaf litter or small twigs, especially Laccaria laccata and Mycena vitilis with Crepidotus cesatii, Lycoperdon perlatum, Marasmiellus ramealis and Mycena stylobates. Deeper leaf litter in the old quarry had the earthstar Geastrum triplex and Melanoleuca melaleuca. 

 

The woodland strips support sixteen plants that are strongly associated with long established and ancient woodland (see Table 1). However, this total is low compared with some of the woodlands in the area, plus it lacks some of the better indicators such as Wood Spurge, Common Cow-wheat and Wood Melick.

Within the National Vegetation Classification (Rodwell, 1991) the woodland mostly falls within W8 Ash Fraxinus excelsior – Maple Acer campestre – Dog’s Mercury Mercurialis perennis, which is the dominant type on the chalk and limestone in Dorset, extending locally to the clay and Greensand. It is difficult to assign it to one particular sub-community, with elements of the Ivy Hedera helix (W4d) and Herb Robert Geranium robertianum (W8e) sub-communities. 

While the woodland has a good enough structure to qualify as Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland Priority Habitat each parcel has to be more than 0.25 hectares in size and more than 15 metres in width to qualify (DERC, 2001). Because of their position on steep slopes, it is difficult to measure the area accurately. The strips are thin and, while at their widest point they are over 15 metres wide, over much of their length they are less, and therefore doubtfully qualify as Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland Priority Habitat or Section 41 Habitat of Principal Importance.

Table 2 Summary of plants recorded and strongly associated with ancient woodland:

• Acer campestre - Field Maple    
• Adoxa moschatellina - Moschatel - Dorset Notable
• Allium ursinum - Ramsons    
• Asplenium scolopendrium - Hart's-tongue Fern    
• Carex remota - Remote Sedge    
• Carex sylvatica - Wood Sedge    
• Dryopteris affinis - Scaly Male-fern    
• Hyacinthoides non-scripta - Bluebell - Dorset Notable
• Ilex aquifolium - Holly    
• Polypodium interjectum - Western Polypody    
• Polystichum setiferum - Soft Shield-fern    
• Primula vulgaris - Primrose    
• Ribes rubrum - Red Current    
• Rosa arvensis - Field Rose    
• Stellaria neglecta - Greater Chickweed - Dorset Notable
• Veronica montana - Wood Speedwell - Dorset Notable

At present the density of trees and shrubs means the ground flora is patchy and there are areas of bare un-vegetated ground that are vulnerable to slippage. Removing the non-native Sycamore saplings from the understorey and thinning some of the Holly will let more light onto the ground allowing plants to colonise and help to stabilise the soils. 

If large trees are to be removed, they could be replaced by smaller species such as Field Maple and Common Whitebeam, both of the which are native to the area.

From a fungi point of view, retention of mature trees is important. Leave branches overhanging the fields on those trees that are at the top of the slopes. Any fallen dead wood could be placed where appropriate (from a road safety point of view) inside the fence.

Blockeel, TL, Bell, NE, Hill, MO, Hodgetts, NG, Long, DG, Pilkington, SL and Rothero, GO 2020    A new checklist of the bryophytes of Britain and Ireland. Journal of Bryology online, March 2021

Derc 2001 Priority Habitat Definition Statement: Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland v1.2.  [Unpublished guidance for the National Biodiversity Network Southwest England Pilot Project.]

Derc 2022 Dorset Notable Species Lists. Dorset Environmental Records Centre, Dorchester

Rodwell, JS (ed.) 1991 British plant communities. Vol. 1. Woodlands and scrub. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Stace, CA 2019 New Flora of the British Isles (4th Ed). C & M Floristics, Suffolk

Key

AWVP = Ancient Woodland Vascular Plant.

DN = Dorset Notable species (Woodland).

1 Frequency: 

• D = Dominant
• A = Abundant
• F = Frequent
• O = Occasional
• R = Rare
• L = Locally (eg LF = locally frequent)

Appendix I: Plant species recorded 13 April 2023

Species	Common name	Status	West	East
Acer campestre	Field Maple	AWVP	O	O
Acer pseudoplatanus	Sycamore	N/A	F	F
Adoxa moschatellina	Moschatel	AWVP; DN	O	O
Aegopodium podagraria	Ground-elder	N/A	R-LA	R-LA
Alliaria petiolata	Garlic Mustard	N/A	O	O
Allium ursinum	Ramsons	AWVP	R-LF	R-LA
Anthriscus sylvestris	Cow Parsley	N/A	O	O-LF
Arctium minus	Lesser Burdock	N/A	R	R
Asplenium scolopendrium	Hart's-tongue Fern	N/A	F	F
Athyrium filix-femina	Lady Fern	N/A	N/A	R
Carex remota	Remote Sedge	AWVP	R	N/A
Carex sylvatica	Wood Sedge	AWVP	R	N/A
Carpinus betulus	Hornbeam	N/A	N/A	R
Circaea lutetiana	Enchanter's Nightshade	N/A	R-O	O
Corylus avellana	Hazel	N/A	F	F
Crataegus monogyna	Hawthorn	N/A	O	O
Digitalis purpurea	Foxglove	N/A		R
Dryopteris affinis	Scaly Male-fern	AWVP	R	R-O
Dryopteris dilatata	Broad Buckler-fern	N/A	O	O
Dryopteris filix-mas	Male Fern	N/A	O	O
Elymus caninus	Bearded Couch	N/A	R	N/A
Epilobium montanum	Broad-leaved Willowherb	N/A	N/A	R
Fagus sylvatica	Beech	N/A	N/A	R
Ficaria verna	Lesser Celandine	N/A	O-LA	O-LF
Geranium robertianum	Herb Robert	N/A	O	O
Geum urbanum	Wood Avens	N/A	O	O
Glechoma hederacea	Ground Ivy	N/A	R-O	N/A
Hedera helix	Ivy	N/A	F-LA	F-LA
Heracleum sphondylium	Hogweed	N/A	R	R
Holcus lanatus	Yorkshire-fog	N/A	R-O	R
Hyacinthoides non-scripta	Bluebell	AWVP; DN	O	R-O
Ilex aquifolium	Holly	AWVP	O-LF	O
Lapsana communis	Nipplewort	N/A	O	O
Lonicera periclymenum	Honeysuckle	N/A	O	O
Mercurialis perennis	Dog's Mercury	N/A	O-LF	O-LA
Picea abies	Norway Spruce	N/A	R	N/A
Pinus sylvestris	Scot's Pine	N/A	R
Poa trivialis	Rough Meadow-grass	N/A	O	R-O
Polypodium interjectum	Western Polypody	AWVP	N/A	R
Polystichum setiferum	Soft Shield-fern	AWVP	F-A	F-LA
Primula vulgaris	Primula vulgaris	AWVP	R-O	R
Prunus spinosa	Blackthorn	N/A	O	O
Ribes rubrum	Red Current	AWVP	N/A	R-O
Ribes uva-ursi	Gooseberry	N/A	N/A	R
Rosa arvensis	Field Rose	AWVP	R
Rubus fruticosus	Bramble	N/A	O-LF	O-LF
Rubus idaeus	Raspberry	N/A	R	N/A
Rumex obtusifolius	Broad-leaved Dock	N/A	R	N/A
Rumex sanguineus	Wood Dock	N/A	R	R
Salix cinerea	Grey Willow	N/A	N/A	R
Sambucus nigra	Elder	N/A	O	O
Silene dioica	Red Campion	N/A	O-LF	O
Stachys sylvatica	Hedge Woundwort	N/A	R	N/A
Stellaria neglecta	Greater Chickweed	AWVP; DN	R-O	N/A
Taraxacum officinale agg.	Dandelion	N/A	O	O
Tilia x vulgaris	Common Lime	N/A	N/A	R
Ulmus procera	English Elm	N/A	N/A	R
Urtica dioica	Stinging Nettle	N/A	O	O
Veronica hederifolia	Ivy-leaved Speedwell	N/A	O-LF	O
Veronica montana	Wood Speedwell	AWVP; DN	R	N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bryophytes - Liverworts

Species	West	East
Lunularia cruciata	O	R

Bryophytes - Mosses

Species	West	East
Anomodon viticulosus	R	N/A
Atrichum undulatum	O	O
Brachythecium rutabulum	O-LF	O
Bryum dichotomum	O	R
Diranella varia agg.	R	R-O
Fissidens bryoides	O-LF	O
Fissidens viridulus	R-O	N/A
Kinbergia praelonga	O-LF	O
Mnium hornum	O	O
Rhynchostegiella tenella	O	N/A

Key

AWVP = Ancient Woodland Vascular Plant.

DN = Dorset Notable species (Woodland).

1 Frequency: 

D = Dominant
A = Abundant
F = Frequent
O = Occasional
R = Rare
L = Locally (eg LF = locally frequent)

Ascomycota

Species	Common name	Type	Substate and habitat	West side	East side
Diatrype stigma	Common Tarcrust	Saprotroph	on dead Sycamore branch	N/A	R
Hypoxylon fuscum	Hazel Woodwart	Saprotroph	on dying and dead attached Hazel stems	O	O-LF
Xylaria hypoxylon	Candle Snuff	Saprotroph	on buried wood	R	O

Basidiomycota

Species	Common name	Type	Substate and habitat	West side	East side
Armillaria mellea	Honey Fungus	Parasitic	on roots	R	R
Auricularia auricula-judae	Jelly Ear	Epiphyte; saprotroph	on dead Elder stems	R	R
Crepidotus cesatii		Litter saprotroph	on small twig	N/A	R
Ganoderma australe	Southern Bracket	Large bracket	on base of living Hazel stool	R	N/A
Geastrum triplex	Collared Earthstar	Litter saprotroph	among leaf litter	R	N/A
Inocybe rimosa	Split Fibrecap	Ecto-mycorrhizal	several on Hazel	N/A	R
Laccaria laccata		Litter saprotroph	among leaf litter	O	O
Hymenochaete corrugata	Glue Fungus	Epiphyte; saprotroph	on dead and dying Blackthorn & Hazel stems	N/A	N/A
Hyphodontia sambuci		Epiphyte; saprotroph	on dead standing Elder stems	R	O
Lycoperdon perlatum	Common Puffball	Litter saprotroph	among leaf litter	R	O
Lycoperdon pyriforme	Stump Puffball	Deadwood saprotroph	on stumps	R	N/A
Marasmiellus ramealis	Twig Parachute	Litter saprotroph	among leaf litter	R	R
Melanoleuca melaleuca	Cavalier	Litter saprotroph	among leaf litter	R	N/A
Mycena arcangeliana	Angel’s Bonnet	Deadwood saprotroph	on dead Hazel stem & rooting wood	R	R
Mycena galericulata	Common Bonnet	Deadwood saprotroph	on rotting wood	R	N/A
Mycena galopus	Milking Bonnet	Litter saprotroph	on small twig in leaf litter	O	O
Mycena stylobates	Bulbous Bonnet	Litter saprotroph	on small twig in leaf litter	N/A	R
Mycena vitilis	Snapping Bonnet	Litter saprotroph	on small woody debris in leaf litter	O	O
Peniophora quercina		Epiphyte; saprotroph	on dead attached Oak branch	N/A	R
Phellinus pomaceus	Cushion Bracket	Epiphyte; saprotroph	on old, dead Blackthorn stems	R	R
Pluteus cervinus	Deer Shield	Deadwood saprotroph	on dead rotting wood	R	R

 

Fig 1: Southern end of area on the east side with a dense patch of Ramsons

 

Fig 2: Southern section on the west side with a locally dense understorey of Holly and a very patchy ground flora

 

Fig 3: Mid section on the east side showing patchy ground flora

 

Fig 4: Upper section on the west side at the widest point showing exposure of Greensand in area that was formerly quarried

 

Fig 5: Upper section with old layered or coppiced stools of Field Maple and Holly

 

Fig 6: Mid section of the eastern side, typical of that side with patchy but abundant Ivy and abundant ferns

 

Fig 7: Edge of the eastern side of the wooded strip at the top of the slope with sheltered edge habitat for birds and invertebrates

 

Fig 8: Old Hazel (Tag no. 00065) stool at top of eastern slope, the large dead attached stem supporting Hypoxylon fuscum, Hymenochaete corrugata and Stereum rugosum

 

Fig 9: Bracket of Ganoderma australe on the base of an old Hazel stool on the western side

 

Interim Ecological Assessment

This forms part of the wider report Interim Ecological Assessment, Dinah's Hollow.