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Witton Lime Beds and Ashton’s Flash Invertebrate Recording Day
Book here.
Both sites are part of the extensive ‘Northwich Woodlands’ complex, and are owned and managed by Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Witton Lime Beds is a SSSI, having been selected to represent a calcareous habitat in a county where there are few remaining natural outcrops of limestone or areas of calcareous soil or calcareous sand dunes. A RECORD recording day in 2016 noted 97 species (all taxa) including Bee Orchids. There is open herb-rich grassland with willow and birch scrub.
Ashton’s Flash has a large area of open water surrounded by reeds. There are herb-rich banks at the edges, including a South-facing bank with abundant Bird’s Foot Trefoil used by Dingy Skipper Butterfly and Six-belted Clearwing Moth. Saline conditions prevail across parts of the site, enabling the establishment of coastal plants. Shallow water bodies with an extensive summer drawdown zone provide significant areas of exposed wet silts. Reclamation of Ashton’s Flash was around 2000.
Please be aware that whilst we welcome invertebrate recorders of all experience levels, our recording days are not taught or guided sessions. (Check out our webinars/workshops here).
Events will be subject to cancellation if there is an adverse weather forecast.
Booking essential: Further details regarding meeting place etc. will be circulated before the day.
