Cow Myers is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) located in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), near Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. The site was designated in 1984 for its fen and Alnus glutinosa, alder carr (landform), carr habitat, which supports a diversity of wetland plant life. Of particular interest are the Primula farinosa, bird's eye primrose (''Primula farinosa'') which is scarce in Yorkshire, and Dactylorhiza incarnata, early marsh orchid. There is no public access to this site, no vehicular access, and no public facilities.

Site history

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Cow Myers was in Fox hunting, foxhunting country, where the Bedale Hunt would run.

Witch of the Woods House

This 17th century National Heritage List for England, listed building is not within the SSSI boundary, but may have been historically associated with its land, being the nearest surviving dwelling to the north entrance. George Wells moved into it in 1717, having inherited it from his father Henry Wells of Cowmyers farmhouse or hamlet. It is not known when or how the house acquired its name. The inside of the building is no longer divided into rooms, and the house and its grounds are not accessible to the public.

Site location and designation

Cow Myers is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). There is no public access to this site, no vehicle access, and no public facilities. Its level and marshy land surrounds Kex Beck, where it flows between Ellington Banks and the hamlet of Cow Myers, north west of Ripon, North Yorkshire. It is part of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and it is also a Site of Nature Conservation Interest, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). The site is fed by springs, and is surrounded by Alnus glutinosa, alder carr (landform), carr. The marshy centre contains fen with "species-rich seep (hydrology), flushes." Cow Myers was SSSI notification, notified as an SSSI on 26 January 1984, for its variety of natural wetland habitats, and the diversity of plant species supported there.

Significant site content

''Note'': Unless otherwise indicated, the flora and fauna images in this article are for identification purposes only, and the photographs were not taken at this site.

Flora

The site contains various Wetland#Ecology, wetland habitats, with some flora preferring particular areas. The dominant tree, in the surrounding "broad-leaved tree, broadleaved, mixed and taxus baccata, yew woodland" and carr (landform), carr, is Alnus glutinosa, black alder. The common species across the site is ''Phragmites, Phragmites australis'' or common reed. Where the stream runs close to the carr, there is Festuca gigantea, giant fescue, Trollius europaeus, globe flower and Crepis paludosa, marsh hawksbeard. Taxus baccata Lviv.JPG, Taxus baccata, Yew Alnus glutinosa. Umeru.jpg, Alnus glutinosa, Black alder Phragmites australis (inflorescences).jpg, Phragmites, Common reed Atlas roslin pl Kostrzewa olbrzymia 3679 8317.jpg, Festuca gigantea, Giant fescue Trollius europaeus Spechtensee 01.JPG, Trollius europaeus, Globe flower Crepis paludosa ENBLA01.jpeg, Crepis paludosa, Marsh hawksbeard There is a clearing inside the encircling carr, and the fen here is populated by Juncus subnodulosus, blunt-flowered rush. In the flushes within the fen there is a lot of Triglochin palustris, marsh arrow grass and ''Carex, Carex lepidocarpa'' or long-stalked yellow sedge. Among these grow Primula farinosa, bird's eye primrose, Dactylorhiza incarnata, early marsh orchid and Pinguicula vulgaris, butterwort. The bird's eye primrose is scarce in England, growing mostly in the north-west of the country. It is rarer in Yorkshire. Juncus subnodulosus.jpeg, juncus subnodulosus, Blunt-flowered rush Triglochin palustris 02.jpg, Triglochin palustris, Marsh arrow grass Carex lepidocarpa.jpeg, Carex, long-stalked yellow sedge Primula farinosa flowers 100704.jpg, Primula farinosa, bird's eye primrose Mannetjesorchis KW 1.JPG, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Early marsh orchid Pinguicula vulgaris, Japan 1.JPG, Pinguicula vulgaris, Butterwort The more waterlogged patches contain Typha latifolia, greater reedmace alongside Molinia caerulea, purple moorgrass. The site contains one patch of Erica tetralix, cross-leaved heath which can be seen among Sphagnum, bog moss hummocks. Typha latifolia Finland.jpg, Typha latifolia, Greater reedmace Molinia caerulea habitus.jpeg, Molinia caerulea, Purple moorgrass Glockenheide Erica Tetralix (1).JPG, Erica tetralix, Cross-leaved heath Sphagnum.flexuosum.jpg, Sphagnum, Bog moss Over 100 plant species, including the abovementioned, were seen by the Harrogate and District Naturalists' Society in May 2019, including Lysimachia tenella, bog pimpernel, Circaea lutetiana, enchanter's nightshade, Neottia ovata, twayblade, Lychnis flos-cuculi, ragged robin, Lysimachia nemorum, yellow pimpernel, ''Pedicularis, Pedicularis palustris'' or marsh lousewort, ''Valeriana, Valeriana dioica'' or marsh valerian, and Viola reichenbachiana, early dog violet. On that day the Society also reported 35 bryophyte species. Anagallis tenella Gors Goch.jpg, Lysimachia tenella, bog pimpernel 20140711Circaea lutetiana2.jpg, Circaea lutetiana, enchanter's nightshade Listera ovata ENBLA01.JPG, Neottia ovata, twayblade PedicularisPalustris.jpg, ''Pedicularis, Pedicularis palustris'' or marsh lousewort Rhytidiadelphus.squarrosus.jpg, Bryophyte ''Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus'' Orthotrichum stramineum (a, 144925-474542) 0632.JPG, Bryophyte ''Orthotrichum, Orthotrichum stramineum''

Fauna

The Capreolus capreolus, Roe deer, Vulpes vulpes, red fox and Lepus europaeus, brown hare are present at Cow Myers. Capreolus capreolus p.jpg, Capreolus capreolus, Roe deer Rød ræv (Vulpes vulpes) scratching.jpg, Vulpes vulpes, Red fox European hare.jpg, Lepus europaeus, Brown hare

Maintenance

In the flush and spring fen, the underground aquifers which waterlog this site contain particular minerals, and it is the combination of the minerals and water levels which affects the biodiversity, diversity of plant life here. Thus the aquifers must be protected from agricultural and commercial water extraction, water abstraction, and from industrial contamination such as pollution and Fertilizer, fertiliser. Light grazing by cattle is recommended to keep the spring (hydrology), springs clear, and light, seasonal trampling of the fen by cattle is considered an advantage. However enrichment of soil by Cow dung, cowpats and animal feed is discouraged, because the protected fen plants require poor soil. Regarding the lowland wet woodland, or carr, the recommendation is for minimum disturbance. This allows trees to mature, fall, and create glade (geography), clearings, while maintaining the delicate balance of fragile soils. Clearings permit a variation of wind, sun and shadow, promoting growth of a variety of Understory, understorey plants. It might sometimes be necessary to clear vegetation, or even coppicing, coppice some trees, to maintain areas of light in the carr. Natural England suggests that public access near deep pools and potentially falling trees should be restricted. Cow Myers is located in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and sometimes the organisation's volunteers are brought in to assist with maintenance.

Development and risk assessment

The site was last officially assessed in September and October, 2012. It was judged that Area One, of "Broad-leaved tree, broadleaved Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest, mixed and Taxus baccata, yew woodland (Upland and lowland, lowland)," was in favourable condition. Area Two, of "lowland fen, marsh and swamp," was in unfavourable and recovering condition. Some parts of Area Two were in favourable condition with diverse flora including Primula farinosa, bird's eye primrose, however the fen areas needed more horse and cattle grazing to prevent scrubland, scrub from encroaching. Area Three, of "lowland broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland," was judged favourable, although encroachment of Impatiens glandulifera, Himalayan balsam was noted. In 2004, Cow Myers was considered for the Ripon Flood control, Flood Defence Scheme, by the Agriculture and Wetlands Technical Group, as a flood management area. This would potentially have had an effect on water levels and retention of biodiversity. In 2014 it was noted by the Environment Agency that chemicals from Molluscicide, slug pellets, possibly originating in agriculture further upstream, were contaminating the water at Cow Myers. In an undated document from North Yorkshire County Council's Minerals and Waste Plan, the effect on neighbouring SSSIs including Cow Myers was considered.

References

External links

* {{cite web , title=Subsubfonds YWT/5/57 - Cow Myers/Ellington Banks , url=https://borthcat.york.ac.uk/index.php/ywt-5-57 , website=borthcat.york.ac.uk , publisher=Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York , accessdate=9 January 2020 , date=1971 (This reference represents one 1971 file in University of York archive) Sites of Special Scientific Interest in North Yorkshire Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified in 1984