Normanton Pastures

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.8927, -1.0714

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SK624331 Unfavourable Recovering 9.41 2014-03-28
SK626332 Unfavourable Recovering 6.92 2014-03-28

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Triassic

Description

Area,16.74 hectares 41.35 ac Description The site comprises one of the best remaining examples of neutral pasture in Nottinghamshire and is representative of species rich grasslands developed on clay loam soils in Central and Eastern England. Biology The pasture lies on ridge and furrow topography and has developed on soils derived from clays of the Triassic Keuper Marl series. The grassland community is characterised by the abundance of crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus, cock's foot Dactylis glomerata, perennial rye grass Lolium perenne, yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens, common bent Agrostis capillaris and quaking grass Briza media and possess a wide range of herbs including pignut Conopodium majus, hayrattle Rhinanthus minor, cowslip Primula veris, sorrel Rumex acetosa, lady's mantle Alchemilla vestita, meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulataa and adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum. There is evidence that the soils become calcareous locally since in some areas the grassland community changes to include such calcicolous plant species as upright brome Bromopsis erecta, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and hairy violet Viola hirta.

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
common bent Agrostis capillaris LC grass poaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
upright brome Bromopsis erecta LC grass poaceae
crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus LC grass poaceae
cock's foot Dactylis glomerata LC grass poaceae
perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne LC grass poaceae
yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens LC grass poaceae
lady's mantle Alchemilla vestita Not listed in GB list herb rosaceae
pignut Conopodium majus LC herb apiaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor DD herb orobanchaceae
common sorrel Rumex acetosa LC herb polygonaceae
hairy violet Viola hirta LC herb violaceae