Salt Meadow, Earl's Common

Also within

Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Description

Description Salt Meadow is an ancient hay meadow on neutral, loamy soils overlying the Lias clays of central Worcestershire. It has been selected as an example of neutral grassland with a number of locally uncommon species. The meadow contains a variety of grasses representative of neutral hay meadows. These include quaking grass Briza media, meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis and yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens. Characteristic herbs include adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus and green winged orchid Anacamptis morio. Of particular interest is the presence of saw wort Serratula tinctoria and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, plants which are uncommon in other neutral hay meadows in Worcestershire. A small, lower lying part of the meadow overlies a clay soil and has damp loving species such as soft rush Juncus effusus and meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria. Dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria, a plant uncommon in Worcestershire, is frequent along the uncut edges of the meadow. The surrounding old hedges include wild privet Ligustrum vulgare dogwood Cornus sanguinea and field maple Acer campestre.

Species mentioned