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Coordinates: 52°20′31″N 0°32′53″E / 52.342°N 0.548°E / 52.342; 0.548
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{{Short description|Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Mildenhall in Suffolk}}
The '''Rex Graham nature reserve''' (Grid ref {{gbmapping|TL742747}}) is a 0.27 [[hectare]] [[nature reserve]] in the [[Breckland]] region of [[Suffolk]], [[England]], named after [[Rex Graham]], a Suffolk [[botanist]]. The site is a disused [[chalk pit]], surrounded by woodland, and is primarily of interest for its population of [[Military Orchid]]s, of which over 95% of the [[United Kingdom]] population occurs at this site.
{{Infobox SSSI
|image= Rex Graham Reserve.jpg
|image_caption =
|name= Rex Graham Reserve
|aos= Suffolk
|interest=Biological
|gridref={{gbmappingsmall| TL 737 746 }}<ref name=dsv/>
|area= 2.8 hectares<ref name=dsv/>
|notifydate= 1984<ref name=dsv/>
|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002531%27 ''Magic Map'']
}}
'''Rex Graham Reserve''' is a {{convert|2.8|hectare|acre|adj=on}} biological [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] east of [[Mildenhall, Suffolk|Mildenhall]] in [[Suffolk]].<ref name=dsv>{{cite web|url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1002531&SiteName=rex&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Rex Graham Reserve | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 11 June 2017}}</ref><ref name=map>{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002531%27 |title=Map of Rex Graham Reserve|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 11 June 2017}}</ref> It is a [[Special Area of Conservation]],<ref>{{cite web|url= http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0019866|title= Rex Graham Reserve|series=Special Areas of Conservation |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|access-date= 4 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK0019866&SiteName=rex&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Rex Graham Reserve | series= Special Area of Conservation|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 10 May 2017}}</ref> and part of the [[Breckland]] [[Special Protection Area]].<ref name=spabreckland>{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK9009201&SiteName=breckland&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Breckland | series= Special Protection Area|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 10 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=defraspabreck>{{cite web|url= http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/SPA/UK9009201.pdf |title=Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive. Breckland. |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|access-date= 4 May 2017}}</ref> It was formerly managed by the [[Suffolk Wildlife Trust]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060714044139/http://www.suffolkwildlife.co.uk/nr/sites/rexg.htm Archive of reserve page formerly on the Suffolk Wildlife Trust website]</ref>
[[File:Orchis militaris2.jpg|thumb|Military Orchid]]


Other plants found at the site include [[mezereon]], [[twayblade]], [[pyramidal orchid]], [[ploughman's spikenard]], [[mullein]] and the [[adder’s tongue fern]].
The site is a disused [[chalk pit]], surrounded by woodland, and is primarily of interest for its population of [[Military Orchid]]s, as over 95% of the [[United Kingdom]] population of this species occurs at this site. Other plants found at the site include [[mezereon]], [[twayblade]], [[pyramidal orchid]], [[ploughman's spikenard]] (''[[Inula]] conyza''), and [[Ophioglossum vulgatum|Southern adderstongue]].


The discovery of a population of Military Orchids at this site occurred in 1955. Prior to this the species had never been recorded in [[East Anglia]], having previously been recorded only in [[Southeast England]]. The population then was at least 500 plants, with over 100 flowering spikes; by 1958 the population had reached 2,854 plants, with about 10% flowering, a population level and flowering proportion that were maintained throughout the 1960s. By 1971 however, only 252 plants were present, due to [[Scrubland|scrubbing over]], as a result of the erection of the protective fence. Scrub clearance and removal of some surrounding trees allowed the population to recover, and subsequent counts include 1,115 plants in 1990 and "too many to count" (Harrap and Harrap 2005) in 2000, when 748 plants were recorded flowering.
The site is surrounded by a rabbit- and deer-proof fence in order to protect the orchid populations from damage. A public open day at the site is held every year on [[Spring Bank Holiday Monday]], to coincide with peak flowering of the Military Orchids.


Genetic analysis of the orchids at Rex Graham has shown that they are distinct from those at the other two English sites, and represent an independent colonisation from Europe.
The site was [[SSSI notification|notified]] as a [[biological Site of Special Scientific Interest]] in 1984, and has been designated a [[Special Area of Conservation]]. It is managed by [[Suffolk Wildlife Trust]] in conjunction with the [[Forestry Commission]]. Management at the site includes the removal of encroaching [[privet]] and [[birch]].


All land within the site designated as Rex Graham SSSI is owned by the [[Forestry Commission]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-06 |title=Mapping the habitats of England’s ten largest institutional landowners |url=https://whoownsengland.org/2020/10/06/mapping-the-habitats-of-englands-ten-largest-institutional-landowners/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Who owns England? |language=en}}</ref>.
⚫
==External Links==


==References==
* [http://www.suffolkwildlife.co.uk/nr/sites/rexg.htm Reserve page at the Suffolk Wildlife Trust website]
{{reflist}}
⚫
* [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACSelection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0019866 JNCC page about the site's Special Area of Conservation status]
⚫
* [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002531.pdf English Nature citation sheet for the site]
⚫
* [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/imagelibrary/searchresults.cfm?txtSearch=rex+graham&Thumbnail=Y A page at Natural England's website containing photographs of the site]


==Sources==
⚫
[[Category:Nature reserves in England]]
* Harrap, Simon and Annie Harrap (2005) ''Orchids of Britain and Ireland, a field and site guide'' {{ISBN|0-7136-6956-X}}

⚫
==External links==
⚫
*[http://www.jncc.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACSelection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0019866 JNCC page about the site's Special Area of Conservation status]
⚫
*[http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002531.pdf English Nature citation sheet for the site]
⚫
*[http://www.english-nature.org.uk/imagelibrary/searchresults.cfm?txtSearch=rex+graham&Thumbnail=Y A page at Natural England's website containing photographs of the site]
{{coord| 52.342| 0.548 |type:landmark_region:GB-BNE|display=title}}
{{SSSIs Suffolk }}
⚫
[[Category:Nature reserves in Suffolk]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Suffolk]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Suffolk]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified in 1984]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified in 1984]]
[[Category:Special Areas of Conservation in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Special Areas of Conservation in England]]
[[Category:Chalk pits]]

Latest revision as of 19:44, 25 October 2024

Rex Graham Reserve
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationSuffolk
Grid referenceTL 737 746[1]
InterestBiological
Area2.8 hectares[1]
Notification1984[1]
Location mapMagic Map

Rex Graham Reserve is a 2.8-hectare (6.9-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Mildenhall in Suffolk.[1][2] It is a Special Area of Conservation,[3][4] and part of the Breckland Special Protection Area.[5][6] It was formerly managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.[7]

Military Orchid

The site is a disused chalk pit, surrounded by woodland, and is primarily of interest for its population of Military Orchids, as over 95% of the United Kingdom population of this species occurs at this site. Other plants found at the site include mezereon, twayblade, pyramidal orchid, ploughman's spikenard (Inula conyza), and Southern adderstongue.

The discovery of a population of Military Orchids at this site occurred in 1955. Prior to this the species had never been recorded in East Anglia, having previously been recorded only in Southeast England. The population then was at least 500 plants, with over 100 flowering spikes; by 1958 the population had reached 2,854 plants, with about 10% flowering, a population level and flowering proportion that were maintained throughout the 1960s. By 1971 however, only 252 plants were present, due to scrubbing over, as a result of the erection of the protective fence. Scrub clearance and removal of some surrounding trees allowed the population to recover, and subsequent counts include 1,115 plants in 1990 and "too many to count" (Harrap and Harrap 2005) in 2000, when 748 plants were recorded flowering.

Genetic analysis of the orchids at Rex Graham has shown that they are distinct from those at the other two English sites, and represent an independent colonisation from Europe.

All land within the site designated as Rex Graham SSSI is owned by the Forestry Commission[8].

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Rex Graham Reserve". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Map of Rex Graham Reserve". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Rex Graham Reserve". Special Areas of Conservation. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Designated Sites View: Rex Graham Reserve". Special Area of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Designated Sites View: Breckland". Special Protection Area. Natural England. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive. Breckland" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  7. ^ Archive of reserve page formerly on the Suffolk Wildlife Trust website
  8. ^ "Mapping the habitats of England's ten largest institutional landowners". Who owns England?. 2020-10-06. Retrieved 2024-10-25.

Sources

[edit]
  • Harrap, Simon and Annie Harrap (2005) Orchids of Britain and Ireland, a field and site guide ISBN 0-7136-6956-X
[edit]

52°20′31″N 0°32′53″E / 52.342°N 0.548°E / 52.342; 0.548

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