Greetham Meadows
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK936155 | — | Favourable | 2.87 | 2023-08-04 |
| SK938156 | — | Favourable | 3.4 | 2023-08-04 |
| SK938158 | — | Favourable | 6.14 | 2023-08-04 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Glacial Till
Landscape processes: Glacial
Description
Area,12.6 hectares Description This is one of the best remaining 'ridge and furrow' hay meadow sites in the region. Unimproved field sof this type were once widespread in the Midlands, but they are becoming increasingly rare due to changes in agricultural practice. Greetham is the only known locality for the frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis in Leicestershire, which is at the extreme northern limits of its British range here. The meadows lie on Boulder Clay, they are dominated by grasses such as crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum and upright brome Bromus erectus. They support a range of typical plants including downy oat grass Avenula pubescens, quaking grass Briza media, cowslip Primula veris, adder's tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, green winged orchid Anacamptis morio and saw wort Serratula tinctoria. Drier areas support glaucous sedge Carex flacca, lady's bedstraw Galium verum, purging flax Linum catharticum and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba. Floral diversity is further enhanced by the presence of acidic flushes containing tormentil Potentilla erecta, heath spotted orchid Dactylorhiza maculata ssp., ericetorum and sedges Carex spp. There are several ponds within the site, one contains water plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica and common water crowfoot Ranunculus peltatus.