Strensall Common

General site character

• Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (2%)
  
• Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (3%)
  
• Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (65%)
  
• Dry grassland, Steppes (5%)
  
• Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (24%)
  
• Coniferous woodland (1%)
  

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

• 4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix

  Strensall Common, together with Skipwith Common, is an example of acidic lowland heath in northern England. The wet element is well-represented by M16 Erica tetralix – Sphagnum compactum wet heath, although its extent has been reduced by drainage. It is a noted locality for marsh gentian Gentiana pneumonanthe, narrow buckler-fern Dryopteris carthusiana and long-leaved sundew Drosera intermedia.

• 4030 European dry heaths

  Strensall Common, with Skipwith Common, is one of only two extensive areas of open heathland remaining in the Vale of York. There is a complex mosaic of 4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix and dry heath elements. The H9 Calluna vulgaris – Deschampsia flexuosa dry heath is noted for petty whin Genista anglica and bird’s-foot Ornithopus perpusillus.

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