Skipwith Common

General site character

• Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (5%)
  
• Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (5%)
  
• Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (55%)
  
• Dry grassland, Steppes (5%)
  
• Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (27%)
  
• Mixed woodland (3%)
  

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• 4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix

  The northern Atlantic wet heath at Skipwith Common is the most extensive of its type in the north of England. The M16 Erica tetralix – Sphagnum compactum wet heath is dominated by cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix and purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea. There is a small population of marsh gentian Gentiana pneumonanthe. The wet heath is part of transitions from open water, fen, reed and swap to 4030 European dry heaths and other habitats. The site has great ornithological and entomological importance.

• 4030 European dry heaths

  Skipwith Common is one of the only two extensive areas of open heathland remaining in the Vale of York, the other being Strensall Common. The dry heath element is an example of H9 Calluna vulgaris – Deschampsia flexuosa heath dominated by heather Calluna vulgaris. The area has entomological and ornithological importance, with nearly 80 species of birds recorded, including European nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

• Not Applicable

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

• Not Applicable