Quoile ASSI

Quoile ASSI is centred around the former tidal estuary of the Quoile River. Following the construction of a barrage the wetland changed from saline to brackish and freshwater. The open waters hold a range of aquatic plant species, with emergent swamp around the margins, backed by a species- rich fen. The area includes a further transition from fen to wet grassland and mature woodland giving a wide range of habitats. As a result of this diversity, plant and animal communities are very rich and include a number of scarce species.

Notable plants include rigid hornwort, slender spike-rush, lesser pondweed, grey sedge, hard-grass and flowering-rush. Significant numbers of birds use the area, with large numbers of wintering and breeding waterfowl. The mature woods contain typical woodland bird communities. Quoile is also notable for mammals including red squirrel and otter. The site is also important for invertebrates including hoverflies, water-bugs, ground beetles, rove beetles and butterflies. A number of notable species are present.