Mansfield & Ashfield Local Members Group

OAK TREE HEATH LNR (SK586 603).

Oak tree heath is owned by Mansfield District Council and is part of the larger Strawberry Hill SSSI the southern section of which is owned by Welbeck Estate and managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. The site was notified as a SSSI in 1989 under the 1981 Act for its botanical interest which are typical of lowland heaths including Bell Heather, Calluna (Hoary Ling) and Wavy hair-grass.

The northern section of the SSSI is surrounded on two sides by housing and is bordered to the south by a bridle way. Bird species are poorly represented on the LNR due to its small size and its proximity to the housing estate and the subsequent disturbance. Species recorded during the 2004 breeding bird survey commissioned by MDC include Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Common Whitethroat, Linnet and Lesser Redpoll. All were found nesting in the Gorse and Broom scrub that borders the site.

The reptile survey also commissioned by MDC found that the heath is one of the most important sites in the county for Common Lizard, with over sixty sightings recorded during the survey.

Butterflies recorded include Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Common Blue and Small Skipper.

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