Poolhay Meadows

Also within

Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Description Two ancient hay meadows with a rich flora which includes several plant species that are scarce in the County. The northernmost field is the wetter of the two. This is reflected in the species present, such as soft and hard rush Juncus effusus and J. inflexus, cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis and ragged-robin Silene flos-cuculi. A particular feature of this meadow is the abundance of green winged orchid Anacamptis morio. The southern meadow has fewer green winged orchids but contains other species of great interest. It is one of the few meadows in Worcestershire where the great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis is an abundant species and the only known site in Worcestershire for the meadow thistle Cirsium dissectum. Other species in some abundance are saw wort Serratula tinctoria, adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum and spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. A wet ditch with associated plant communities and species rich hedgerows add considerably to the overall nature conservation value of this site.

Species mentioned