Yanal Bog - Biological Interest

Biological Interest

The plant communities of the mire are nationally rare in Britain, and support two species, Black Bog-rush (Schoenus nigricans) and Blunt-flowered Rush (Juncus subnodulosus), which have restricted distributions in south-west England, and a number of species which are localised in the Avon area. Surrounding the raised mire is a belt of grassland, and although this is included within the SSSI, it is largely made up of common grass and herb species.

In the community in the western part of the mire, Blunt-flowered Rush, Purple Moor-grass (Molinea caerulea) and Carnation Sedge (Carex panicea) are abundant species, and this part of the mire is characterised by the presence of a number of species which favour base-rich conditions. Black Bog-rush is locally abundant along a wet drainage ditch in this western part of the site. In the eastern part of the mire Purple Moor-grass and Blunt-flowered Rush are again abundant, but the abundant sedge species here are Lesser (Carex acutiformis) and Greater Pond-sedges (C. riparia). Common Reed (Phragmites australis) and Marsh Horsetail (Equisetum palustre) are also frequent. This part of the site supports plant species associated with more neutral conditions.

The site has a species-rich flora; species which occur here but are localised or confined to specialised habitats in the Avon are Flea Sedge (Carex pulicaris), Saw-wort (Serratula tinctoria), Meadow Thistle (Cirsium dissectum), Marsh Valerian (Valeriana dioica), Dyer’s Greenweed (Genista tinctoria), Marsh Arrowgrass (Triglochin palustris), Southern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa), Fen Bedstraw (Galium uliginosum), Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) and Tawny Sedge (Carex hostiana) and Tufted-sedge (Carex elata).