Belshaw

Also within

Lincolnshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Description

Area, 0.2 hectares 0.5 ac Description Belshaw comprises a short length of land along a disused railway line which is important because it supports a colony of greater yellow rattle Rhinanthus angustifolius. This nationally rare plant receives special protection under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act,1981. Once widely distributed, this species is now known to occur at only six localities in great Britain; five in England Greater London, Surrey and Humberside and one in Angus, Scotland. The greater yellow rattle occurs here within a remnant of neutral grassland dominated by false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius, cock's foot Dactylis glomerata, common bent Agrostis capillaris and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus together with herbs such as great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis and common knapweed Centaurea nigra. In damp areas common reed Phragmites australis and meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria are invading the grassland and there is some development of shrubs including hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, bramble Rubus fruticosus and roses Rosa spp., along the track sides.

Species mentioned