North Curry Meadow
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST329253 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 1.26 | 2011-06-23 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Triassic
Description
Area, 1.3 ha. 3.1 ac. Description North Curry Meadow is a traditionally managed hay meadow which contains a rich variety of grasses and dicotyledonous herbs characteristic of ancient, semi natural lowland grassland. This type of habitat has been a particular focus of agricultural improvement during the last 50 years resulting in a marked reduction in its extent over this period. The site contains a population of the nationally scarce corky fruited water dropwort Oenanthe pimpinelloides, indicative of a particular type of mesotrophic grassland community which occurs locally in South West England. The soils here belong to the Worcester association and are derived from Permo Triassic reddish mudstones which gives rise to slowly permeable, non calcareous and calcareous clayey soils. The position of the site on a gently sloping rise above West Sedgemoor allows it to drain freely throughout the year. Grasses dominate the sward and include crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus, common bent Agrostis capillaris, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens. Dicotyledonous herbs account for a high proportion of cover and include abundant rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, yarrow Achillea millefolium, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor and frequent corky fruited water dropwort. Legumes form an important part of the community and include meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, common bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, tufted vetch Vicia cracca, white clover Trifolium repens and red clover Trifolium pratense. Other components include cowslip Primula veris, goat's beard Tragopogon pratensis, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare. There is a large population of green winged orchids Anacamptis morio which is favoured by the late hay cut.
Species mentioned
Show the 19 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
MG7 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Mesotrophic grassland
Lolium perenne leys and related grasslands Lolium perenne-Alopecurus pratensis grassland
Show 47 indicator speciesJuncus inflexus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Cardamine pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Cerastium glomeratum, Stellaria media agg., Lathyrus pratensis, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sativa, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Bromus hordeaceous, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis
MG9 — Brownfield, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Mesotrophic grassland
Holcus lanatus-Deschampsia cespitosa grassland
Show 79 indicator speciesCarex hirta, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Cirsium vulgare, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leucanthemum vulgare, Pulicaria dysenterica, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Hypericum perforatum, Mentha aquatica, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Plantago lanceolata, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex sanguineus, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Urtica dioica, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Glyceria fluitans, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Hordeum secalinum, Lolium perenne, Phalaris arundinacea, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens