Piles Copse
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Piles Copse is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)[1][2] within Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England. It is located 5km north of the town of Ivybridge in the valley of the River Erme, north of a stream called Piles Brook. This area is protected because it contains one of the few examples of ancient upland woodlands on Dartmoor and contains a high diversity of moss species.
Piles Copse SSSI is adjacent to South Dartmoor SSSI, and so forms part of a wider area of nature protection.
The woodland is dominated by pedunculate oak. Woodland herbs include wood-sorrel. Amongst granite boulders, mosses form a covering mat (species here include Hypnum cuppressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum and Dicranum scoparium). Moss species also include Dicranum flagellare (genus Dicranum).[1]
Liverworts in this woodland include Jamesoniella autumnalis and Harpanthus scutatus. Lichen species include Parmelia laevigata and Ochrolechia inversa.[1]