Cherry Hinton Pit is a 12.8-hectare (32-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the south-eastern outskirts of Cambridge . The site consists of East Pit and most of the smaller West Pit (excluding a caravan park in the centre). East Pit is part of the Limekiln Close and East Pit Local Nature Reserve , which is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire under the name Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits. West Pit is a separate Local Nature Reserve (LNR).
10-485: These former chalk quarries have a variety of habitats, including grassland and woodland with ash trees, field maple and cherries. The site was designated an SSSI because it has four rare plants, three of which are listed in the British Red List of Threatened Species . These are great pignut , moon carrot and grape hyacinth . Archaeologists have discovered human bones, Roman and Iron Age pottery fragments, and
20-488: A leaf spot fungus Didymosporina aceris , a mildew Uncinula bicornis , a canker Nectria galligena , and verticillium wilt Verticillium alboatrum . The leaves are also sometimes damaged by gall mites in the genus Aceria , and the aphid Periphyllus villosus . The field maple is widely grown as an ornamental tree in parks and large gardens. The wood is white, hard and strong, and used for furniture, flooring, wood turning and musical instruments, though
30-433: Is 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) wide, flat, with a 2 cm (0.79 in) wing. The two varieties , not accepted as distinct by all authorities, are: The closely related Acer miyabei replaces it in eastern Asia. The native range of field maple includes much of Europe, including Denmark, Poland and Belarus, England north to southern Scotland (where it is the only native maple), southwest Asia from Turkey to
40-478: Is not among the first trees to colonise a freshly disturbed area, but instead seeds in under the existing vegetation. It is very shade-tolerant during the initial stages of its life, but it has higher light requirements during its seed-bearing years. It exhibits rapid growth initially, but is eventually overtaken and replaced by other trees as the forest matures. It is most commonly found on neutral to alkaline soils , but more rarely on acidic soil . Diseases include
50-411: The 3–9 cm (1.2–3.5 in) petiole) and 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) broad, with five blunt, rounded lobes with a smooth margin. Usually monoecious , the flowers are produced in spring at the same time as the leaves open, yellow-green, in erect clusters 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) across, and are insect-pollinated. The fruit is a samara with two winged achenes aligned at 180°, each achene
60-595: The Caucasus, and north Africa in the Atlas Mountains. In many areas, the original native range is obscured by widespread planting and introductions. In North America it is known as hedge maple and in Australia, it is sometimes called common maple. In Nottinghamshire , England it was known locally as dog oak . Field maple is an intermediate species in the ecological succession of disturbed areas; it typically
70-682: The family Sapindaceae . It is native to much of continental Europe , Britain, southwest Asia from Turkey to the Caucasus, and north Africa in the Atlas Mountains. It has been widely planted, and is introduced outside its native range in Europe and areas of USA and Western Australia with suitable climate. It is a deciduous tree reaching 15–25 m (49–82 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in diameter, with finely fissured, often somewhat corky bark . The shoots are brown, with dark brown winter buds . The leaves are in opposite pairs, 5–16 cm (2.0–6.3 in) long (including
80-422: The remains of an Iron Age ditch on the site. The ditch is often referred to as the 'War Ditches' and believed to be part of a hill fort. There is access from Limekiln Road, which goes between the two pits. 52°10′44″N 0°10′05″E / 52.179°N 0.168°E / 52.179; 0.168 Field maple Acer campestre , known as the field maple , is a flowering plant species in
90-479: The similar A. monspessulanum ) are popular among bonsai enthusiasts. The dwarf cultivar 'Microphyllum' is especially useful in this regard. A. campestre bonsai have an appearance distinct from those selected from some other maples such as A. palmatum with more frilly, translucent , leaves. The shrubby habit and smallish leaves of A. campestre respond well to techniques encouraging ramification and leaf reduction. Periphyllus Periphyllus
100-728: The small size of the tree and its relatively slow growth make it an unimportant wood. It has an OPALS rating of 7. It is locally naturalised in parts of the United States and more rarely in New Zealand. The hybrid maple Acer × zoeschense has A. campestre as one of its parents. The tree has gained the Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit . Over 30 cultivars of Acer campestre are known, selected for their foliage or habit , or both; several have been lost to cultivation. Acer campestre (and
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