Metfield Meadow
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM303798 | — | Favourable | 1.3 | 2018-06-12 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Glacial Till
Landscape processes: Glacial
Description
Area, 1.4 ha. 3.4 ac. Description Metfield Meadow is an example of a species rich unimproved meadow, situated on a disused airfield and still surviving within an intensively farmed arable landscape. The turf is dominated by a mixture of crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus, cock's foot Dactylis glomerata, red fescue Festuca rubra and carnation grass Carex flacca. Other species present in the meadow are indicative of unimproved grassland on chalky boulder clay, including large populations of green winged orchid Anacamptis morio, cowslips Primula veris and pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus. Amongst many other plants found in smaller quantities are quaking grass Briza media, purging flax Linum catharticum, spiny rest harrow Ononis spinosa, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus adder's tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, hoary plantain Plantago media, hoary ragwort Senecio crucifolius and common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. A dense hedge runs along the northern boundary which is rich in woody species and adds further interest to the site.
Species mentioned
Show the 14 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 |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| crested dog's tail | Cynosurus cristatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| cock's foot | Dactylis glomerata | LC | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| green-winged orchid | Anacamptis morio | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| spotted orchids | Dactylorhiza fuchsii | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| rough hawkbit | Leontodon hispidus | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| fairy flax | Linum catharticum | LC | herb | linaceae |
| spiny rest-harrow | Ononis spinosa | Not listed in GB list | herb | fabaceae |
| hoary plantain | Plantago media | LC | herb | plantaginaceae |
| cowslip | Primula veris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| pepper saxifrage | Silaum silaus | EN | herb | saxifragaceae |
| glaucus sedge | Carex flacca | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
Plant communities
OV3 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed less fertile acid, Pond ditch and canal
Papaver rhoeas-Viola arvensis community
Show 52 indicator speciesBryum erythrocarpum, Phascum cuspidatum, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Anthemis arvensis, Artemisia vulgaris, Cirsium arvense, Eupatorium cannabinum, Matricaria discoidea, Pulicaria dysenterica, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Anchusa arvensis, Myosotis arvensis, Arabidopsis thaliana, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Descurainia sophia, Sisymbrium officinale, Valerianella locusta, Arenaria leptoclados, Arenaria serpyllifolia, Silene latifolia, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media agg., Chenopodium album, Convolvulus arvensis, Medicago lupulina, Trifolium repens, Vicia sativa, Geranium dissectum, Epilobium hirsutum, Papaver argemone, Papaver dubium, Veronica arvensis, Veronica persica, Veronica triphyllos, Fallopia convolvulus, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex crispus, Anagallis arvensis, Aphanes microcarpa, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola arvensis, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia repens, Poa annua, Poa trivialis, Chara vulgaris
OV4 — Arable
Chrysanthemum segetum-Spergula arvensis community
Show 56 indicator speciesBryum rubens, Daucus carota, Artemisia vulgaris, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Crepis capillaris, Filaginella uliginosa, Glebionis segetum, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus asper, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Anchusa arvensis, Myosotis arvensis, Brassica rapa, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lepidium didymum, Raphanus raphanistrum, Cerastium fontanum, Cerastium glomeratum, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media agg., Euphorbia helioscopia, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium repens, Vicia sativa, Fumaria muralis, Geranium dissectum, Galeopsis tetrahit, Lamium purpureum, Stachys arvensis, Plantago major, Veronica agrestis, Veronica arvensis, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex acetosella, Rumex crispus, Anagallis arvensis, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla anserina, Misopates orontium, Solanum nigrum, Viola arvensis, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Poa annua, Poa trivialis
OV7 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed fertile loam and clay
Veronica persica-Veronica polita community
Show 41 indicator speciesAethusa cynapium, Cirsium arvense, Conyza canadensis, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Diplotaxis muralis, Erucastrum gallicum, Lepidium coronopus, Sisymbrium officinale, Thlaspi arvense, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex patula, Atriplex prostrata, Chenopodium album, Euphorbia helioscopia, Euphorbia peplus, Lamium amplexicaule, Lamium hybridum, Lamium purpureum, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Veronica persica, Veronica polita, Fallopia convolvulus, Polygonum aviculare, Anagallis arvensis, Ranunculus repens, Galium aparine, Solanum nigrum, Urtica urens, Viola arvensis, Agrostis stolonifera, Avena fatua, Elytrigia repens, Poa annua, Aphanes arvensis, Chara vulgaris
OV8 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed fertile loam and clay
Veronica persica-Alopecurus myosuroides community
Show 41 indicator speciesAethusa cynapium, Anthemis cotula, Cirsium arvense, Lapsana communis, Matricaria chamomilla, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus arvensis, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lepidium coronopus, Sinapis arvensis, Sisymbrium officinale, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex patula, Atriplex prostrata, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium hybridum, Convolvulus arvensis, Euphorbia helioscopia, Euphorbia peplus, Trifolium repens, Geranium dissectum, Lamium purpureum, Plantago major, Veronica persica, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex crispus, Galium aparine, Solanum nigrum, Urtica dioica, Urtica urens, Alopecurus myosuroides, Avena fatua, Elytrigia repens, Poa annua, Chara vulgaris
OV9 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed fertile loam and clay
Matricaria perforata-Stellaria media community
Show 76 indicator speciesJuncus bufonius, Bryum rubens, Dicranella staphylina, Kindbergia praelonga, Barbula unguiculata, Phascum cuspidatum, Tortula intermedia, Riccia sorocarpa, Artemisia vulgaris, Cirsium arvense, Crepis capillaris, Filaginella uliginosa, Glebionis segetum, Lapsana communis, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus arvensis, Sonchus asper, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum maritimum, Tussilago farfara, Anchusa arvensis, Myosotis arvensis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Raphanus raphanistrum, Sisymbrium officinale, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex patula, Atriplex prostrata, Chenopodium album, Equisetum arvense, Mercurialis annua, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Fumaria officinalis, Geranium molle, Galeopsis tetrahit, Lamium hybridum, Lamium purpureum, Chamerion angustifolium, Epilobium montanum, Papaver dubium, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Veronica arvensis, Veronica persica, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum arenastrum, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex acetosella, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Anagallis arvensis, Ranunculus arvensis, Potentilla anserina, Sherardia arvensis, Misopates orontium, Solanum nigrum, Urtica dioica, Viola arvensis, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Hordeum vulgare, Lolium perenne, Poa annua, Poa trivialis, Aphanes arvensis, Chara vulgaris
OV10 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed fertile loam and clay
Poa annua-Senecio vulgaris community
Show 74 indicator speciesBryum argenteum, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Anthemis cotula, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Jacobaea vulgaris, Lapsana communis, Leucanthemum vulgare, Matricaria chamomilla, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio squalidus, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Tussilago farfara, Myosotis arvensis, Alliaria petiolata, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Erophila verna, Lepidium coronopus, Raphanus raphanistrum, Sinapis arvensis, Cerastium fontanum, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex prostrata, Chenopodium album, Euphorbia exigua, Euphorbia helioscopia, Medicago lupulina, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia sativa, Fumaria officinalis, Eriodium cicutarium, Lamium hybridum, Lamium purpureum, Chamerion angustifolium, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Plantago media, Veronica arvensis, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica persica, Veronica polita, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum arenastrum, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex acetosa, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Anagallis arvensis, Ranunculus repens, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Urtica urens, Viola arvensis, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anisantha sterilis, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Festuca ovina, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Aphanes arvensis
OV11 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed fertile loam and clay
Poa annua-Stachys arvensis community
Show 61 indicator speciesBryum erythrocarpum, Dicranella staphylina, Pleuridium subulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Tortula truncata, Daucus carota, Glebionis segetum, Matricaria discoidea, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio sylvaticus, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus arvensis, Sonchus asper, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lepidium didymum, Sinapis arvensis, Cerastium fontanum, Cerastium glomeratum, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex patula, Chenopodium album, Euphorbia exigua, Euphorbia helioscopia, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium repens, Fumaria bastardii, Fumaria muralis, Geranium dissectum, Lamium purpureum, Stachys arvensis, Kickxia elatine, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Veronica arvensis, Veronica persica, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum lapathifolium, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Anagallis arvensis, Ranunculus repens, Aphanes microcarpa, Potentilla anserina, Sherardia arvensis, Misopates orontium, Solanum nigrum, Viola arvensis, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa annua, Poa trivialis, Aphanes arvensis
OV13 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed fertile loam and clay
Stellaria media-Capsella bursa-pastoris community
Show 59 indicator speciesArctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus arvensis, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Tripleurospermum maritimum, Brassica napus, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lepidium coronopus, Sinapis arvensis, Sisymbrium officinale, Thlaspi arvense, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex patula, Atriplex prostrata, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium bonus-henricus, Chenopodium rubrum, Chenopodium urbicum, Calystegia sepium, Convolvulus arvensis, Euphorbia helioscopia, Euphorbia peplus, Mercurialis annua, Trifolium repens, Fumaria bastardii, Fumaria muralis, Geranium dissectum, Lamium album, Lamium hybridum, Lamium purpureum, Plantago major, Veronica agrestis, Veronica persica, Veronica polita, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum lapathifolium, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Galium aparine, Solanum nigrum, Urtica dioica, Urtica urens, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus myosuroides, Anisantha sterilis, Avena fatua, Elytrigia repens, Lolium perenne, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Chara vulgaris
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas
W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub
Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Show 40 indicator speciesHedera helix, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Achillea millefolium, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Jasione montana, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Teucrium scorodonia, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Pteridium aquilinum