WL3F Salix cinerea – Phalaris arundinacea woodland
Vegetation
This community has a low canopy dominated by Salix cinerea and Alnus glutinosa (mean canopy height = 12.0 m, n = 43). Fraxinus excelsior is a constant but seldom plentiful. Filipendula ulmaria, Phalaris arundinacea, Galium palustre, Mentha aquatica, Lythrum salicaria and Iris pseudacorus are constants in the field layer. Also frequent are Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Senecio aquaticus, Agrostis stolonifera, Equisetum fluviatile, Carex remota and Lysimachia vulgaris. The bryophyte layer is rather sparse and composed of patches of Kindbergia praelonga, Calliergonella cuspidata, Brachythecium rutabulum, Hypnum cupressiforme and Rhizomnium punctatum.
Ecology
This is a very wet woodland community of gleys and basin peats (mean organic content = 46.1%, n = 51) found on flat ground in the lowlands (mean slope = 0.4°, n = 51; mean altitude = 53 m, n = 51). Soil conditions are base-rich, fairly fertile and waterlogged. These stands are typically found as carr on swampy lake margins.
Sub-communities
No sub-communities have been described for this community.
Similar communities
This community lacks the significant birch component that is characteristic of the willow stands of WL3E. The field layer contains a greater proportion of fen and swamp species than WL3D and typically does not support non-native willows.
Conservation value
This is on average a fairly species-rich woodland community (total species/100 m2 = 32.8, n = 53) with a reasonable bryophyte flora (bryophyte species/100 m2 = 9.8, n = 53). Stands along rivers and lakes which are subject to periodic inundation qualify as EU HD Annex I habitat 91E0 Residual alluvial forests*.
Management
The main threats to these woodlands include changes to hydrological regimes, overgrazing by livestock (usually cattle), woodland clearance and invasion by non-native species.