Debdale Meadow, Muston
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK835393 | — | Favourable | 4.33 | 2010-06-08 |
Description
Description This meadow is an outstanding example of a traditionally managed neutral grassland, supporting a wide range of plants that are characteristic of the clay soils of the Midlands. Unimproved meadows of this type are now rare in lowland Britain. The meadow lies on Lias clay and slopes gently to the north east. The higher ground exhibits the pronounced ridge and furrow pattern left by medieval cultivation. The grassland is dominated by crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum and red fescue Festuca rubra, although upright brome Bromus erectus is locally abundant on the drier ridges. Common bent Agrostis capillaris, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, common bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, cowslip Primula veris, bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus and betony Betonica officinalis are abundant throughout, whilst pignut Conopodium majus, lady's bedstraw Galium verum, great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, saw wort Serratula tinctoria and yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens are locally frequent. Other notable species include quaking grass Briza media, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris and adder's tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum.