Sean Hawkins Meadow

A small species-rich wet meadow by a stream and a small area of woodland.

Location
The reserve is near Millington, Lymm (O.S. Grid Ref.: SJ726843).

Access
Open to all.

Description
Sean Hawkins Meadow (0.74ha) was ‘gifted' to the Cheshire Wildlife Trust on the 29 th August 1996.

Sean Hawkins Meadow lies in a steep sided U-shaped valley, which cuts through the sandstone into Mercia Mudstone (Tarporley silt formation) beneath. Agden Brook flows along the length of the site to the north-east, leaving vertical sides up to two metres deep.

This small site is made up of a variety of habitats. The north-eastern corner and eastern edge of the site is dominated by semi-improved acidic species poor grassland, continuing along the northern edge of the site a mature clough woodland exists on well drained sandy slopes. At the sites northerly extremity a small area of herb rich grassland exists. Below the clough woodland there is an area of species rich marshy grassland. On the southern side of the Agden Brook to the eastern corner a small Alder/Ash dominated woodland exists. Continuing along the stream along the southern edge another tall herb area exists, which grades into another small mature clough woodland area.

The vegetation of the site has been surveyed on a few occasions and more recently efforts have been made to record mammals and terrestrial invertebrates. The data collected has started to provide the Wildlife Trust with a basic picture of the site.

Management has consisted of an annual meadow cut using a sickle-bar mower in order to prevent the ‘scrubbing over' of the site and to maintain a diversity of floristic species. Occasional supplementary cuts take place when they are required to keep paths open or to control invasive species. The cut material is piled up and burnt on site.

Stock fencing has been erected on the site to prevent animals from the neighbouring land gaining access to the site.

Sean Hawkins Meadow Objectives

Cheshire Wildlife Trusts main objectives for the site are to ensure the desired condition of both woodland habitats (W7 Alnus glutinosa-Fraxinus excelsior-Lysimachina nemorum woodland and W10 Quercus robur-Pteridium aquilinium-Rubus fruticosus woodland –typical sub-community) has generally been reached and the U4 ( Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaries-Galium saxatile grassland) acid grassland, a priority BAP habitat, is maintained.

The correct management techniques are already being applied to the grassland with an annual hay cut of the meadows and the removal of encroaching scrub when necessary.

Within both woodland habitats exists a small number of sycamores, an undesirable and invasive alien species, these need to be removed. The dry woodland habitat (W10 Quercus robur-Pteridium aquilinium-Rubus fruticosus woodland –typical sub-community) component of this reserve would be assisted by the thinning out of a number of young trees and replanting with native species suitable to this habitat type if natural regeneration proved unsuccessful. Such action would promote the growth of healthier and stronger trees

Little is known about the condition of Agden Brook. However, this brook is currently being used by water voles and kingfishers and appears to be in reasonable condition. The emphasis in terms of management of these streams will therefore be on information gathering via the Environment Agency (EA).

All the plant species recorded so far are associated with the various habitats present on site. All habitats present within Sean Hawkins Meadow are likely to influence the survival of plant species and communities. It is therefore considered likely that the needs of floral species will be met by maintaining all habitats in favourable condition

Similarly, the needs of the water voles can be best met by the maintenance and enhancement of the bankside vegetation which runs alongside Agden Brook, the prevention of scrub encroachment, maintenance of the bank profile and the maintenance and enhancement of the brooks vegetation and water quality.