BINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL
BINGHAM LINEAR WALK
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The BLW is part of a railway line running out of Bingham. The main entrance is on the main road running into Bingham from the A53 roundabout and is on the right handside. Map reference = SK705 389. There are other entrance points along the walk.
The section of disused railway comprises habitats including secondary woodland, mature trees, scrub and grassland occupying the disused railway track bed and verges. The most extensive areas of woodland is towards the western edge of the site and where the railway enters a steep cutting. extensive grassland communities occur along central and eastern sections. The western section of the site is bordered by residential development. Whilst central and eastern sections go through agricultural land (predominantly arable fields delimited by hedgerows). Local people use the disused railway for passive recreation and a public footpath runs through certain sections.
These compartments are dominated by sycamore, with occasional wych elm, ash, pedunculate oak and beech. The shrub layer is dominated by hawthorn. Some of the sycamore, beech and ash has been planted and is of an even-age structure. Ground flora includes ivy, Yorkshire-fog and rough meadow-grass.
Other areas consist of self-sown woodland, dominated by sycamore but also including wych elm and a whitebeam species, which has probably been planted. The ground flora is sparse, consisting predominantly of ivy although other species characteristic of secondary woodland such as red campion and wood avens also present.
Beyond the woodland is an area composed almost entirely of hawthorn and blackthorn with some elder . A ruderal sub habitat has developed in some areas around and beneath the scrub, including bramble , false oat-grass, hogweed and common nettle. Where the scrub is less dense, there are small clumps of sweet violet.
Other areas are also dominated by hawthorn but also includes various planted trees and shrubs, some of which are non-native species. Species include hazel, buddleia, horse chestnut snowberry, field maple, guelder rose and cherry cultivars.
The dominant grasses is upright brome and false oat-grass. Other species include yellow oat-grass, black knapweed, meadow vetchling, ox-eye daisy and cowslip, rare yellow-juiced poppy also occurs. There are areas that have become rank and dominated by upright brome, with few broad leaved herbs such as ox-eye daisy, whilst in other more local areas there was a species-rich sward, including a range of fine and medium leaved grasses and abundant broad-leaved herbs. In some areas numbers of field bindweed act as a food plant for the larvae of nationally rare four-spotted moth
The track comprises the sparse grassland communities that have colonised the ballast of the track bed. Typical species include annual grasses such as silver hair-grass and squirrel-tail fescue and herbs such as mouse-ear hawkweed, yellow stonecrop and nipplewort. This grassland also acts as a refuge for plant species normally associated with arable field margins, including some that are scarce in the county. These include common cornsalad, lesser toadflax and Smith's pepperwort. The latter species is restricted to only twelve sites within the county.
The range of vegetation structures (including areas of sparse grassland and bare ground) and the presence of warm southerly facing banks creates ideal conditions for invertebrates. In particular, the site is of known importance for butterflies and moths (although it is also likely that the site is of equal importance for other less well recorded invertebrate groups). Of the 22 butterflies that occur in Nottinghamshire, 19 occur on the site (see Appendix 1 for the species list), and there have been previous records of a further two species (both of which are now believed to be absent). There have also been recent records of the nationally rare four-spotted moth and the locally scarce small yellow-underwing moth.
The diversity of species reflects the varied conditions, which provide host plants for the larval stages and nectar sources of adults. Many insects are restricted to a few plants, often if only growing in a specific micro climate eg sheltered, sunny conditions.
The bird species include a range of woodland species such as Spotted Flycatcher, whilst whitethroat, lessor whitethroat and blackcaps are breeding in the scrub. Skylark and yellow wagtail use the site for foraging and are likely to be breeding on nearby arable land. Once again pointing out the importance of habitat variation.
The site is owned by Bingham Parish Council who have done a certain amount of work on the site primarily with reference to public access provision. However in 2001 they commissioned a Management Plan to look at the conservation interest. As a result there is now a Friends of Bingham Linear Walk starting up that will be specifically targeting the conservation side. For details contact Bill Bacon (01949 838585), who is Chairman of the group.
(These notes are based on the BLW Management Plan prepared by EMEC in 2001)