Seven Star Green Management Statement

A Management Guidance Statement

 1. SITE DETAILS

1.1       Site reference and name

Site name: Seven Star Green

Site code: Co55

 1.2 Ownership

Name of owner and their contact details:  Eight Ash Green Parish Council

 1.3    Site location / map

• Local authority: Colchester Borough Council
• Grid reference: TL 939258
• Site area (if known): 0.8Ha
• Location map:

 1.4 A site description:  Co55 Seven Star Green (0.8 ha) TL 939258

This green comprises species-rich acidic grassland and a small pond with surrounding scrub. Amongst grasses such as Sweet Vernal-grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Meadow-grasses (Poa spp.) and Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus) is the diminutive early-flowering herb Field Wood-rush (Luzula campestris). Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) flourishes in the damp areas near the pond, which also supports a small amount of Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia caespitose), whilst the main grassland has a rich and diverse species assemblage including Grass Vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia), Black Knapweed (Centaurea nigra), Common Bird'-foot-trefoil (Lotus cornicuilatus) and Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium). Four Essex Red Data List species are found in this site: Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica), Heath-grass (Danthonia decumbens), Velvet Bent (Agrostis canina) and Tormentil (Potentilla erecta). Species-rich, ancient, unimproved turf of this type is now extremely rare in Essex.

Selection criteria: HCr10, SCr15

Priority Habitats: Lowland Meadows (UK); Lowland Grassland (Essex)

Date of selection: 1991                       Date of last revision: December 2008

•1.4    Survey date and Author of Statement

20/7/2010 Lisa Gerrard

 2. MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

 •2.1  OVERALL OBJECTIVES:

Maintain the species richness of this unimproved grassland by timing the annual cuttings to allow the plants to set seed and not be crowded out by rougher, competitive species.

Position in the Landscape

The green is bounded by a road to the West and North, and to the East by a damp ditch.  Arable fields, farmsteads and residential homes and gardens are nearby.

Equality and Communication

Pedestrians have permissive access across the site.

The important features and management guidance are summarised in the following table