Although the survey was tetrad based, all records were made at the 1 kilometre level and this means that it is possible to be much more precise about the location of any given bramble species. Also, the records were entered onto a database file at the borough level and therefore it is possible to create sub-files for each of the boroughs or Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. The number of 1km records on the Chorley sub-file now stands at over 1400, whilst the number of species recorded for Chorley is in the order of 60. It should be noted that this total includes several described and undescribed species which are endemic to the north-west of England.

As indicated in the above summary of the recording project, it is known that there are several endemic bramble species that occur within the borough of Chorley. One of these brambles "the Chorley Woods mucronate leaved bramble" (soon to be described as a new species) is a characteristic plant of the of the woodlands of the Yarrow and Douglas river valleys. This species flowers early in the season and has starry pink flowers, long narrow petals and often pink based styles. The stems are not heavily armed, most of the prickles being confined to the angles of the stem. This undescribed species is associated not only with another British endemic Rubus distractifomis Newton on the banks of the River Yarrow at Duxbury Woods but also with a bramble that is rare in the county of Lancashire Rubus nessenis W. Hall.

It occurred to me that the above mentioned association of species is totally unique to Duxbury Woods, that is to say that as far as it is known Duxbury Woods is the only place on earth where this association of species is known to exist. It should be noted that Rubus nessensis W. Hall is particularly sensitive to habitat change, as indicated by visits to former localities in Cheshire by Alan Newton, and by myself to Botton Mill, Wray. Therefore, the few localities in the north-west of England where this species occurs do need regular monitoring. Clearly any disturbance of the river banks of the Yarrow at Duxbury Woods may not only result in a further decline in the status of R. nessensis in the north-west of England but also lead to the loss of a unique association of species.

The brambles that are known to occur in the two 1km squares for which a road development is proposed are as follows :-

As indicated above this association of bramble species is unique to Duxbury Woods and it does of course follow that the entire association of plants and animals at Duxbury Woods must also be unique to the natural world. Therefore, it is most important that local naturalists pool together all the natural history records for Duxbury Woods and the adjacent areas. By working together with the local residents and additional organisations, we can all hopefully ensure that this unique site of biological heritage is not disturbed or destroyed by developments such as the construction of a new road.