Houghton Meadows

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.3277, -0.1029

Also within

Cambridgeshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TL293716 Favourable 4.73 2022-07-12

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
crane Unknown

Description

Description These ridge and furrow meadows hold neutral grassland communities of a type now rare in Cambridgeshire and declining nationally. They are akin to the calcareous pasture type which is geographically restricted to the south of the country. Characteristic plant species include lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, downy oat grass Avenula pubescens, cowslip Primula veris and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba. The rich variety of broadleaved herbs also includes common knapweed Centaurea nigra, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and meadow crane’s bill Geranium pratense.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
downy oat grass Avenula pubescens LC grass poaceae
black knapweed Centaurea nigra LC herb asteraceae
meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria LC herb rosaceae
lady's bedstraw Galium verum LC herb rubiaceae
meadow cranesbill Geranium pratense LC herb geraniaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae