Mappp.co - Stocking Meadows, Oreton

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Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (2)

Unit	Feature	Condition	Area (ha)	Assessed
SO653802	—	Favourable	1.71	2020-11-02
SO654803	—	Favourable	1.5	2017-06-21

Description

Area, 1.78 ha. 4.42 ac. Description A group of three fields which, together, make up one of the best examples of traditionally managed, unimproved pasture in Shropshire. The sward is composed of a number of grasses, no single species of which is dominant. These include common bent Agrostis capillaris, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus, red fescue Festuca rubra, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus. Locally, sedges, mainly carnation sedge Carex panicea and spring sedge Carex caryophyllea are abundant. The flora is exceptionally rich and includes several uncommon species, including adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, green winged orchid Anacamptis morio, twayblade Neottia ovata and lesser butterfly orchid Platanthera bifolia. Other characteristic, but less scarce, plants include cowslip Primula veris, betony Betonica officinalis, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare and, locally, lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica. To damper areas, lady’s smock Cardamine pratensis occurs.

Species mentioned

Show the 18 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status

English name search for this in other sites	Latin name search with Google	IUCN / Red List	Type	Family
adders-tongue fern	Ophioglossum vulgatum	LC	fern	ophioglossaceae
common bent	Agrostis capillaris	LC	grass	poaceae
sweet vernal grass	Anthoxanthum odoratum	LC	grass	poaceae
crested dog's tail	Cynosurus cristatus	LC	grass	poaceae
sheep's fescue	Festuca ovina	LC	grass	poaceae
red fescue	Festuca rubra	LC	grass	poaceae
Yorkshire fog	Holcus lanatus	LC	grass	poaceae
green-winged orchid	Anacamptis morio	NT	herb	orchidaceae
betony	Betonica officinalis	VU	herb	lamiaceae
cuckoo-flower	Cardamine pratensis	LC	herb	brassicaceae
oxeye daisy	Leucanthemum vulgare	LC	herb	asteraceae
common twayblade	Neottia ovata	NT	herb	orchidaceae
lousewort	Pedicularis sylvatica	NT	herb	orobanchaceae
lesser butterfly orchid	Platanthera bifolia	VU	herb	orchidaceae
cowslip	Primula veris	LC	herb	primulaceae
yellow-rattle	Rhinanthus minor	DD	herb	orobanchaceae
spring-sedge	Carex caryophyllea	NT	sedge	cyperaceae
carnation sedge	Carex panicea	NT	sedge	cyperaceae

Insects to look out for

These moths and butterflies are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a hostplant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

Species	Status	Via hostplant
Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata	Vulnerable	Rhinanthus minor
Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa	Near Threatened	Festuca ovina
Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata	Near Threatened	Betonica officinalis
Rosy minor Litoligia literosa	Near Threatened	Festuca ovina

Hostplant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation (Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.