Laxton Sykes

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.1988, -0.9363

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (3) Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SK711674 Unfavourable Recovering 5.48 2010-07-09
SK734655 Favourable 6.09 2022-02-04
SK735652 Unfavourable Recovering 1.83 2022-02-04
SK735660 Unfavourable Recovering 0.89 2010-07-09

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Triassic

Description

Area,15.0 hectares 37.0 ac Description The site comprises some of the best remaining neutral grasslands in Nottinghamshire and is representative of grasslands developed on the Midland clays. Biology The long, narrow grassland strips the sykes adjoining certain of the open fields, continue to be managed as traditional grasslands for hay and occasional grazing and are fine examples of species rich neutral grasslands developed on heavy clays of the Triassic Keuper Marl. The sward is characterised by a wide variety of grass species of which amongst the most abundant are sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, soft brome Bromus hordeaceous, red fescue Festuca rubra, Yorkshire fog Holcus mollis and quaking grass Briza media. The sykes contain a diverse herb flora including such typical plants as cowslip Primula veris, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, pignut Conopodium majus, lady's bedstraw Galium verum, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, hayrattle Rhinanthus minor and, in wetter areas, lady's smock Cardamine pratensis and adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
adders-tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum LC fern ophioglossaceae
sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum LC grass poaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
common soft brome Bromus hordeaceous Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
creeping soft grass Holcus mollis LC grass poaceae
cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis LC herb brassicaceae
pignut Conopodium majus LC herb apiaceae
lady's bedstraw Galium verum LC herb rubiaceae
birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus LC herb fabaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor DD herb orobanchaceae
pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus EN herb saxifragaceae