Section 4 - Technical guidance - Limestone Pavement
| Feature | Unit of measurement |
|---|---|
| L01 - Limestone pavement - BAP habitat | hectare |
See also:
|
|
L01 - Limestone pavement - BAP habitat
- This feature is found on Carboniferous limestone in Northern England.
- The exposed near horizontal limestone surface is characterised by a complex pattern of blocks (clints) and deep fissures (grykes).
- On open pavements the vegetation is largely confined to the grykes and can be rich in vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens.
- Tree and shrub cover is low, but many of the species found in the humid, shady conditions of the grykes are more typical of woodlands.
- The exact assemblage varies according to geographical location, altitude, extent of pavement and degree of grazing.
Condition assessment
- There must be no evidence of recent damage to the pavement surface.
- Cover of typical emergent pavement flora and clint-top vegetation forms at least 25% of total vegetation cover (i.e. excluding bare rock).
- Cover of all undesirable herbaceous species (false oat-grass, crested dog's-tail, brambles, creeping thistle, spear thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, common nettle, other pernicious perennial species) is less than 5%.
- Cover of undesirable woody species (sycamore, beech, blackthorn, cotoneasters) is less than 10% of the woody cover.
Page last modified:
15 June, 2005
Page published: 3 March, 2005