Conisborough Hill Top Hedgerow Survey
Field Studies undertaken by Doncaster Museum and Doncaster Naturalists’ Society on the afternoon and evening of May 21st, 1995.
54 x 30m hedgerow samples undertaken along Firsby Lane, Footpath No. 3 and the eastern part of Park Lane. Also included are the results of a batch of 10 x 30m hedgerow sample from Park Lane surveyed in October 1994.
(Compiled by C. A. Howes, Doncaster Museums & Arts Service Environmental Records Section).
Firsby Lane (Hedgerow on eastern side of lane)
Hedgerow A – B
No. of samples surveyed =10
No. of Tree/shrub species* = 10
Max number of species per 30m sample = 9
Mean number of species per 30m sample = 6.2
*= not including woody climbers
|
Tree / shrub species |
Number of samples |
% frequency |
| Ash | 5 | 50 |
| Blackthorn | 7 | 70 |
| Elder | 6 | 60 |
| Field Maple | 7 | 70 |
| Hawthorn | 10 | 100 |
| Hazel | 7 | 70 |
| Holly | 2 | 20 |
| Oak (Common) | 4 | 40 |
| Sycamore | 4 | 40 |
| Wych Elm | 10 | 100 |
| Woody Climbers | ||
| Bramble | ||
| Ivy | ||
| Rose (field) | ||
| Non-woody Climbers | ||
| Hop – Humulus lupulus | ||
| Black Bryony – Tamus communis | ||
| Woodland Herbs | ||
| Ramsons – Allium ursinum | ||
| False Brome – Brachypodium sylvaticum | ||
| Bluebell – Hyacinthoides non-scriptus | ||
| Yellow Archangel – Lamiastrum galeobdolon | ||
| Wood Malic Grass – Melica uniflora | ||
| Dog’s Mercury – Mercurialis perennis | ||
| Lesser Celandine – Ranunculus ficarea | ||
| Greater Stitchwort – Stellaria holostea |
Hedgerow B – F
No. of samples surveyed =10
No. of Tree/shrub species* = 8
Max number of species per 30m sample = 6
Mean number of species per 30m sample = 4.7
*= not including woody climbers
| Tree / shrub species | Number of samples | % frequency |
| Ash | 6 | 60 |
| Blackthorn | 7 | 70 |
| Elder | 2 | 20 |
| Field Maple | 6 | 60 |
| Hawthorn | 10 | 100 |
| Hazel | 3 | 30 |
| Oak (Common) | 9 | 90 |
| Wych Elm | 4 | 40 |
| Woody Climbers | ||
| Bramble | ||
| Ivy | ||
| Rose (dog) | ||
| Non-woody Climbers | ||
| Black Bryony – Tamus communis | ||
| Woodland Herbs | ||
| Yellow Archangel – Lamiastrum galeobdolon | ||
| Dog’s Mercury – Mercurialis perennis | ||
| Greater Stitchwort – Stellaria holostea |
Hedgerow B – C
Hedgerow removed leaving only sparse examples of Ash, Field Maple, Common Oak and Bramble.
The survival of the woodland indicator herb, Dog’s Mercury, suggests these are a remnant of an ancient species-rich boundary hedge.
Hedgerow C – D
No. of samples surveyed =13
No. of Tree/shrub species* = 5
Max number of species per 30m sample = 2
Mean number of species per 30m sample = 1.4
*= not including woody climbers
Hedgerow removed leaving only sparse examples of the following
| Tree / shrub species | Number of samples | % frequency |
| Ash | 1 | 7.6 |
| Blackthorn | 1 | 7.6 |
| Elder | 5 | 38.4 |
| Hawthorn | 13 | 100 |
| Sycamore | 1 | 7.6 |
Hedgerow removed leaving only sparse examples of Blackthorn, Elder, Hawthorne, Sycamore and Bramble.
The survival of the woodland indicator herb, Dog’s Mercury and Greater Stitchwort suggests these are a remnant of an ancient species-rich boundary hedge.
Hedgerow D – E
No. of samples surveyed = 3
No. of Tree/shrub species* = 7
Max number of species per 30m sample = 5
Mean number of species per 30m sample = 3.3
*= not including woody climbers
| Tree / shrub species | Number of samples | % frequency |
| Apple | 1 | 33.3 |
| Blackthorn | 1 | 33.3 |
| Elder | 2 | 66.6 |
| Field Maple | 2 | 66.6 |
| Hawthorn | 2 | 66.6 |
| Holly | 1 | 33.3 |
| Wych Elm | 1 | 33.3 |
| Woody Climbers | ||
| Bramble | ||
| Ivy | ||
| Rose (sp.) | ||
| Woodland Herbs | ||
| Dog’s Mercury – Mercurialis perennis |
Hedgerow G – H
Bridleway / Footpath No. 3 from the northern end to the ‘flag’ waymarker
No. of samples surveyed =7
No. of Tree/shrub species* = 8
Max number of species per 30m sample = 5
Mean number of species per 30m sample = 3.4
*= not including woody climbers
| Tree / shrub species | Number of samples | % frequency |
| Ash | 5 | 71.4 |
| Birch | 1 | 14.2 |
| Elder | 3 | 42.8 |
| Field Maple | 5 | 71.4 |
| Hawthorn | 7 | 100 |
| Holly | 1 | 14.2 |
| Oak (Common) | 2 | 28.5 |
| Wych Elm | 1 | 14.2 |
| Woody Climbers | ||
| Bramble | ||
| Rose (field) | ||
| Woody Nightshade | ||
| Non-woody Climbers | ||
| Black Bryony – Tamus communis | ||
| Woodland Herbs | ||
| False Brome – Brachypodium sylvaticum | ||
| Bluebell – Hyacinthoides non-scriptus | ||
| Dog’s Mercury – Mercurialis perennis | ||
| Greater Stitchwort – Stellaria holostea |
Hedgerow J – K
No. of samples surveyed =10
No. of Tree/shrub species* = 11
Max number of species per 30m sample = 8
Mean number of species per 30m sample = 5.1
*= not including woody climbers
| Tree / shrub species | Number of samples | % frequency |
| Ash | 3 | 30 |
| Blackthorn | 7 | 70 |
| Dogwood | 4 | 40 |
| Elder | 2 | 20 |
| Field Maple | 8 | 80 |
| Gorse | 2 | 20 |
| Grey Willow | 4 | 40 |
| Hawthorn | 10 | 100 |
| Hazel | 1 | 10 |
| Oak (Common) | 7 | 70 |
| Wych Elm | 4 | 40 |
| Woody Climbers | ||
| Bramble | ||
| Ivy | ||
| Rose (dog) | ||
| Rose (field) | ||
| Non-woody Climbers | ||
| Woodland Herbs | ||
| Dog’s Mercury – Mercurialis perennis | ||
| Lesser Celandine – Ranunculus ficarea |
Hedgerow K – L
Part of Park Lane adjacent to application site (west side of lane) from Footpath No. 3 to ‘dogleg’ at Eastern end of lane.
No. of samples surveyed =11
No. of Tree/shrub species* = 8
Max number of species per 30m sample = 5
Mean number of species per 30m sample = 3.6
*= not including woody climbers
| Tree / shrub species | Number of samples | % frequency |
| Ash | 2 | 18.2 |
| Blackthorn | 9 | 81.8 |
| Elder | 7 | 63.6 |
| Field Maple | 1 | 9.1 |
| Hawthorn | 9 | 81.8 |
| Hazel | 2 | 18.2 |
| Holly | 3 | 27.3 |
| Oak (Common) | 5 | 45.5 |
| Wych Elm | 2 | 18.2 |
| Woody Climbers | ||
| Bramble | ||
| Ivy | ||
| Rose (sp.) | ||
| Non-woody Climbers | ||
| Black Bryony – Tamus communis | ||
| Woodland Herbs | ||
| Dog’s Mercury – Mercurialis perennis | ||
| Lesser Celandine – Ranunculus ficarea | ||
| Greater Stitchwort – Stellaria holostea |
The mean species diversity calculations for this substantial batch of hedgerow samples (64 in total) helps to confirm that the field boundaries are of some considerable antiquity, possibly Tudor, Medieval or even older.
C.A. Howes
Doncaster Museums & Arts Service
Environmental Records Section
June 1995