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Home > Environment > Conservation and regeneration > Nature conservation > Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Clayhanger

Clayhanger SSSI lies to the north of Walsall on gravely glacial boulder clays, which overlie the Middle Coal Measures (Carboniferous). The site includes a wide range of wetland habitats from open water through swamp and fen communities to species-rich marshy grassland, which adjoin areas of neutral and acidic grassland. Habitat diversity, well developed stands of emergent vegetation, and species restricted in their national distribution combine to make Clayhanger one of the best wetland sites in the county.

The site shows considerable variation in the areas of open water and associated emergent vegetation, which is dominated by greater reed-mace (Typha latifolia) and reed sweet-grass (Glceria maxima). In some pools there are good stands of common club-rush (Schoenoplectus lacustis) or sea club-rush (Scirpus maritimus), a coastal species which is rare inland. This emergent vegetation grades into fen communities, which include mare's-tail (Hippuris vulgaris), tubular water dropwort (Oenanthe fistulosa) and pink water-speedwell (Veronica catenta). Marshy grassland areas, which are very local in the county, are dominated by rushes (Juncus articulus, J. bufonius, J. conglomerates and J. effesus) with sedges (Carex nigra and C. ovalis) becoming locally abundant.

This community is species-rich with marsh ragwort (Senecio aqauticus), gipsywort (Lycopus europaeus), water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpiodies), skullcap (Scuttellaria galericulata), celery-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus), and triffid bur-marigold (Bidens tripartite). Adjacent neutral grassland has areas where meadow thistle (Cirsium dissectum) is abundant; this species is restricted nationally to the south and east and is uncommon in the Midlands.

Early marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata) and common spotted-orchid (D. fuchsii) are present together with their hybrids. Spoil heaps have developed an acidic grassland vegetation which includes harebell (Campanula rotundifolia), eyebright(Euphrasia officinalis) and matgrass (Nardus stricta), an uncommon species in the county.

This page was last updated on 12 December 2007