‘Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion)’ [7220] are an EU Habitats Directive Annex I priority habitat.

Lullington Brook with Tufa Cascade, Barrage and Flowstone, tributary of the Somerset River Frome

Underlying Rock Strata:   JURASSIC – Bathonian period (named after the City of Bath) Mudstone, grey with ventricular units of limestone(L) and sandstone / underlying Frome Mud 

Stream Invertebrates:

Ancylus fluviatilis                                          River Limpets

Agapetus                                                       Saddle-case Caddisfly larvae

Glossosoma                                                   Saddle-case Caddisfly larvae

Synagapetus                                                 Caddis Possibility (Ian Wallace, irecord)

Psychomyiidae                                            Caddis larvae in tubes (Galleries)

Rhyacophila dorsalis                                  Free swimming Caddis larvae

Gammarus pulex                                         Freshwater Shrimps

Chironomidae                                              Non-biting Midge larvae (above)

Ephemera danica                                       Green Drake Mayfly

Asellus aquaticus                                       Water Hoglouse

Liverworts:

Conocephalum conicum                                 Great Scented Liverwort

Pellia endiviifolia                                             Endive Pellia

Lunularia cruciate                                            Crescent-cup Liverwort

Porella platyphylla                                           Wall Scalewort

Mosses:

Plagiomnium undulatum                             Hart’s Tongue Thyme Moss 

Palustriella commutata                            Curled Hook-moss

Eucladium verticillatum                           Whorled Tufa Moss

Thamnobryum alopecurum                     Fox-tailed Feather Moss

 Anomodon viticulosus                           Rambling Tail Moss

(Common tufa bryophytes – not seen/identified)

A well-formed tufa flowstone formed by one of a number of karst springs which rise in the Carboniferous strata both here and more famously in the nearby Mells Valley.  Some of these karst springs (as in this case) actively deposit tufa, a secondary precipitate of calcium carbonate.

A barrage which has formed a continuous tufa dam across the stream – these often develop (as in this case) on the upstream side.  These are usually referred to as UK’s Freshwater Reefs.

Wet Woodland Plants:

Polystichum setiferum                                  Soft Shield Fern

Asplenium scolopendrium                           Hart’s Tongue fern

Carex pendula**                                             Pendulous Sedge

Hedera helix                                                    Common Ivy (climbing & ground)

Asplenium viride  ??                                      Green Spleenwort

Lamium galeobdon**                                    Yellow Archangel (wild species)

Veronica montana                                         Wood Speedwell    

Rubus fruticosus                                             Blackberry

Geranium robertianum                                 Herb Robert

Primula vulgaris**                                         Primrose

Allium ursinum**                                          Wild Garlic

Mercurialis perennis**                                 Dog’s Mercury

Hyacinthoides non-scrita**                         Bluebell

Urtica dioica                                                   Stinging Nettle

Arum maculatum                                           Lords & Ladies

Ficaria vernq                                                   Lesser Celandine

Lamium purpureum                                      Red Deadnettle

Galium aparine                                               Cleavers (Goose Grass)

Glechoma hederacea                                     Ground Ivy

Silene dioica                                                    Red Campion

Veronica montana                                         Wood Speedwell  

Solanum dulcamara                                      Woody Nightshade

Circaea lutetiana                                           Common Enchanter’s Nightshade

Oenanthe crocata                                          Hemlock Water-dropwort

Aegopodium podagraria                              Ground Elder

                     Grassland species ( on stream bank )                  

Veronica chaedrys                                       Birdseye Speedwell

 Potentilla sterilis                                         Barren Strawberry

Dactylorhiza fuchsii                                     Common Spotted Orchid

Pilosella aurantiaca                                      Fox and Cubs

Leucanthemum vulgare                               Moon Daisy

Tragopogon pratensis                                  Goatsbeard

 Leontodon hispidus                                     Greater (Rough) Hawkbit

Agrimonia eupatoria                                    Agrimony

Geranium pusillum                                      Small-flowered Cranesbill

Gernium dissectum                                      Cut-leaved Cranesbill

Chrysanthemum vulgare                            Tansy

Cirsium vulgare                                            Spear Thistle

Cirsium arvense                                           Creeping Thistle

**Ancient-woodland-indicator plant 

Woodland Trees

Blackthorn                                                      Prunus spinosa

Hazel                                                                Corylus avellana 

Elder                                                                Sambucus nigra

Hawthorn                                                       Crataegus monogyna

English Yew                                                    Taxus baccata

Common Lime                                                Tilia × europaea

  Birds: [20]

Sparrowhawk (flying over), Red Kite (flying over) Buzzard (circling), Common Raven, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Tree Creeper, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Wren, Chiff Chaff, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Pheasant (M&F, 3 young), Little Egret (flying over).

       Insects, Spiders, Butterflies etc

Butterflies: [11] Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Small Copper, Red Admiral, Ringlet, Peacock.

Dragonflies & Damselflies : [5] Azure Damselfly, Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly, Banded Demoiselle damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Brown Hawker Dragonfly. 

Mayflies : Mayfly (Ephemera danica).

Moths: Angle Shades Moth, Olive Pearl Moth.

Insects, Spiders, Galls : Black Oil Beetle,  Rove Beetle (Philonthus marginatus), Oak Marble Gall, Nursery Web Spider (plus eggs & spiderlings), Beefly, Hoverfly, Dock Bug, 14-Spot Ladybird, Black & Red Froghopper, Picture Fly,  

Fungi, Lichen   

Xylaria polymorpha                                        Dead Man’s Fingers

Armillaria mellea                                             Bootstrap (Honey fungus)