Monkspath Meadow

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.3849, -1.7870

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West Midlands County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SP145763 — Favourable 0.97 2012-06-21

Description

Description This site is the best example of a species rich, unimproved hay meadow in the West Midlands County. The pasture has developed on either side of a shallow valley. The grassland consists predominantly of common bent Agrostis capillaris, red fescue Festuca rubra, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa. This turf also contains a rich variety of herbs including cowslip Primula veris, betony Betonica officinalis, great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria, saw wort Serratula tinctoria and yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor. There are localised damp patches dominated by rushes Juncus spp. with the unusual presence of mat grass Nardus stricta. The wetter areas also contain a number of rarer plants including dense stands of meadow thistle Cirsium dissectum. Spotted orchids Dactylorhiza maculata agg. are scattered throughout the area.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
common bent Agrostis capillaris LC grass poaceae
tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa LC grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus LC grass poaceae
mat grass Nardus stricta LC grass poaceae
betony Betonica officinalis VU herb lamiaceae
meadow thistle Cirsium dissectum EN herb asteraceae
heath spotted orchid Dactylorhiza maculata LC herb orchidaceae
dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria LC herb fabaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor DD herb orobanchaceae
great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis LC herb rosaceae
saw wort Serratula tinctoria VU herb asteraceae