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Around the Town Cluster: A Habitat Analysis What are the predominant habitat types for plant life in the Town Cluster? The Town Cluster is largely characterised by human-influenced environments. Built-up areas and cultivated/disturbed land represent a significant portion, with 85.1% of species associated with built-up areas and 56.5% of species from cultivated land being present. This is largely due to the inclusion of town centre parks and gardens within the cluster. Coastal habitats are also highly significant, with all 100% of species from shingle above high water and 88.2% of species from sand dunes found here, reflecting the cluster's seafront location. How do the plant species reflect the coastal environment of the Town Cluster? The plant species strongly reflect the coastal environment. The presence of 100% of species typically found on shingle above high water and 88.2% of species associated with dune habitats clearly indicates the influence of the sea front. Plants like Sea Kale are examples of species that have adapted to the specific salty, windswept, and dry conditions found along the shoreline. What is the significance of the high percentage of species found in built-up and cultivated areas? The high percentage of species found in built-up areas (85.1%) and cultivated/disturbed land (56.5%) is a direct consequence of the cluster's composition. Five of the sites within the cluster are town centre parks and gardens, which naturally support these types of flora. This also aligns with the 67.6% of all parkland species being present. Many of these species are either garden escapes (e.g., Ivy-leaved Toadflax) or common garden 'weeds' (e.g., Hairy Bittercress, Green Alkanet). Is there any natural grassland within the Town Cluster, given the presence of wet grassland species? Despite 46% of wet grassland species being found in the cluster, there is actually no true wet grassland within these specific sites. The presence of these species is considered "misleading" because many of them are also commonly found in neutral and rich grasslands, which are the predominant type of grassy areas within the Town Cluster. What evidence suggests that the Town Cluster area was historically a wooded valley? The presence of certain woodland indicator species, such as wood anemone and bugle, in areas like Powys House, strongly suggests that the entire area was once a wooded valley. These species are typically found in established woodland environments, and their survival in remnants of woodland and scrub within the cluster indicates a past, more extensive tree cover, estimated to be up to about 200 years ago. Where are woodland and scrub species primarily found within the Town Cluster? Woodland and scrub species are primarily found on the West Hill site. However, there are also remnants of these habitats in other corners of the cluster, notably within Glen Goyle and the grounds of Powys House. These locations host species that provide clues to the area's historical ecological profile. How have some plant species adapted to the specific conditions within the Town Cluster? Plant species within the Town Cluster have adapted in various ways to the specific conditions. For example, Sea Kale is adapted to the harsh salty, windy, and dry conditions of the shoreline. Thale Cress thrives in small, uncultivated corners of parks and gardens. Many species associated with built-up areas, such as Ivy-leaved Toadflax, were originally introduced and cultivated in nearby gardens and have since spread. Other common garden 'weeds' like Hairy Bittercress survive through rapid growth and seed production before removal, while attractive species like Green Alkanet have earned their place among cultivated plants. What is the overall conclusion regarding the association between habitats and plant species in the Town Cluster? The analysis clearly indicates a strong association between the habitats present in the Town Cluster and the plant species found there. This ranges from specialist species adapted to challenging shoreline conditions to those thriving in human-modified environments like parks, gardens, and built-up areas. The presence of historical indicator species also provides insight into the area's ecological past.

Around the Town Cluster: A Habitat Analysis

What are the predominant habitat types for plant life in the Town Cluster?

The Town Cluster is largely characterised by human-influenced environments. Built-up areas and cultivated/disturbed land represent a significant portion, with 85.1% of species associated with built-up areas and 56.5% of species from cultivated land being present. This is largely due to the inclusion of town centre parks and gardens within the cluster. Coastal habitats are also highly significant, with all 100% of species from shingle above high water and 88.2% of species from sand dunes found here, reflecting the cluster's seafront location.

How do the plant species reflect the coastal environment of the Town Cluster?

The plant species strongly reflect the coastal environment. The presence of 100% of species typically found on shingle above high water and 88.2% of species associated with dune habitats clearly indicates the influence of the sea front. Plants like Sea Kale are examples of species that have adapted to the specific salty, windswept, and dry conditions found along the shoreline.

What is the significance of the high percentage of species found in built-up and cultivated areas?

The high percentage of species found in built-up areas (85.1%) and cultivated/disturbed land (56.5%) is a direct consequence of the cluster's composition. Five of the sites within the cluster are town centre parks and gardens, which naturally support these types of flora. This also aligns with the 67.6% of all parkland species being present. Many of these species are either garden escapes (e.g., Ivy-leaved Toadflax) or common garden 'weeds' (e.g., Hairy Bittercress, Green Alkanet).

Is there any natural grassland within the Town Cluster, given the presence of wet grassland species?

Despite 46% of wet grassland species being found in the cluster, there is actually no true wet grassland within these specific sites. The presence of these species is considered "misleading" because many of them are also commonly found in neutral and rich grasslands, which are the predominant type of grassy areas within the Town Cluster.

What evidence suggests that the Town Cluster area was historically a wooded valley?

The presence of certain woodland indicator species, such as wood anemone and bugle, in areas like Powys House, strongly suggests that the entire area was once a wooded valley. These species are typically found in established woodland environments, and their survival in remnants of woodland and scrub within the cluster indicates a past, more extensive tree cover, estimated to be up to about 200 years ago.

Where are woodland and scrub species primarily found within the Town Cluster?

Woodland and scrub species are primarily found on the West Hill site. However, there are also remnants of these habitats in other corners of the cluster, notably within Glen Goyle and the grounds of Powys House. These locations host species that provide clues to the area's historical ecological profile.

How have some plant species adapted to the specific conditions within the Town Cluster?

Plant species within the Town Cluster have adapted in various ways to the specific conditions. For example, Sea Kale is adapted to the harsh salty, windy, and dry conditions of the shoreline. Thale Cress thrives in small, uncultivated corners of parks and gardens. Many species associated with built-up areas, such as Ivy-leaved Toadflax, were originally introduced and cultivated in nearby gardens and have since spread. Other common garden 'weeds' like Hairy Bittercress survive through rapid growth and seed production before removal, while attractive species like Green Alkanet have earned their place among cultivated plants.

What is the overall conclusion regarding the association between habitats and plant species in the Town Cluster?

The analysis clearly indicates a strong association between the habitats present in the Town Cluster and the plant species found there. This ranges from specialist species adapted to challenging shoreline conditions to those thriving in human-modified environments like parks, gardens, and built-up areas. The presence of historical indicator species also provides insight into the area's ecological past.

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Around the Town Cluster: A Habitat Analysis

Species Habitat Preferences

This table looks at habitat influences and how the flowering plants and their preferred habitat types reflect provide a profile of this cluster of sites.

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