Brookhouse Wood

Wildlife
Biodiversity is all living things from the tiny garden ant to the giant redwood tree. You will find biodiversity everywhere, in window boxes and wild woods, roadsides and rainforests, snowfields and the seashore.

We are part of biodiversity and depend on it for quality of life. What we don’t save now, our children will pay for later. Biodiversity is the living bank that everyone should invest in. Now it is banking on you.

Wildlife to look out for at Brookhouse Wood

Wildlife to look out for at Brookhouse Wood

Birds
Nearly 50 species of birds have been recorded on site in survey work. Threet species are listed in the Greater Manchester Biodiversity Action Plan (GM BAP) as UK priority species.These are Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix), Skylark (Alauda arvensis), and Linnet (Carduelis cannabina). All three are listed in the North West Biodiversity Audit. In addition the Grey Partridge is a red data book species. Fifteen other species found on site which are mentioned in the GM BAP as species of conservation concern are Lapwing - (Vanellus vanellus), Blue Tit - (Parus caeruleus) Whitethroat - (Sylvia communis) Yellowhammer - (Emberiza citrinella) Meadow Pipit - (Antus pratensis) Chaffinch - (Fringilla coelbs) Song Thrush - (Turdus philomelos) Lesser Redpoll - (Carduelis flammea) Dunlin - (Calidris alpina) Sparrowhawk - (Accipiter nisus) Great Tit - (Parus major) Willow Warbler - (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) Mallard - (Anas platyrhynchos) Blackcap - (Sylvia atricapilla) Cuckoo - (Cuculus canorus)

Butterfly
Of the ten species of Butterflies so far recorded on site, two are listed within the GM BAP. Polyommatus icarus or Common Blue, and Parage aegeriai or Speckled Wood.

Mammals
Five mammal species were found on the site; Common Shrew (Sorex araneus), Field Vole (Microtus agretis), Mole (Talpa europaea), Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Roe Deer (Carpreolus capreolus). A large number of tunnels and runs were recorded especially within the rough grassland areas, showing a high abundance of small mammals. The Common Shrew and Roe deer are listed in the GM BAP as species of conservation concern.

Vegetation
The grassland at Brookhouse is rich in herb species and is influenced by poor drainage and the close proximity of marshy grassland and tall herb habitat. The community is therefore a complex one and the mosaic of habitats and greater array of flowering species provides good aesthetic value as well as providing ecological interest. Of particular interest is the Red Bartsia and Ragged Robin. The variation in soil drainage also provides a mixture of community types this is shown in the species composition. Four species of Orchid were found on site;Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylrohiza purpurella) Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylrorhiza praetermissa) Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza Fuchsii) Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)
Of these the Northern Marsh Orchid is listed within the GM BAP. The Bee Orchid is of general interest and larger colonies have been recorded in the past.

Fungi
27 species of fungi have been seen on the site. Five of these species were in grassland habitats with the remainder in woodland areas, particularly in edge habitats.