Collyweston Quarries
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TF003038 | — | Favourable | 6.61 | 2020-07-21 |
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Area, 6.32 hectares 15.6 ac Description An area of rough grassland on the site of a former limestone quarry representing the largest example of this type of vegetation in Northamptonshire. Grassland developed on the Jurassic Oolite series limestone is confined to the Cotswolds and a discreet part of the East Midlands. The sward is species rich, dominated by upright brome Bromus erectus and tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum with downy oat grass Avenula pubescens and quaking grass Briza media. Among the locally uncommon herbs present are Dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria, wild thyme Thymus polytrichus, rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris and clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata. Parts of the site are remarkable for the abundance of knapweed broomrape Orobanche elatior and pyramidal orchid Anacampestris pyramidalis. More than one hundred flowering plant species have been recorded from the site. Good populations of several species of butterfly and a characteristic invertebrate fauna are present. There are additional geological features of interest.
Species mentioned
Show the 10 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| downy oat grass | Avenula pubescens | LC | grass | poaceae |
| tor grass | Brachypodium pinnatum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| upright brome | Bromus erectus | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| clustered bellflower | Campanula glomerata | VU | herb | campanulaceae |
| dropwort | Filipendula vulgaris | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| dyer's greenweed | Genista tinctoria | LC | herb | fabaceae |
| rock roses | Helianthemum nummularium | VU | herb | cistaceae |
| tall broomrape | Orobanche elatior | LC | herb | orobanchaceae |
| wild thyme | Thymus polytrichus | Not listed in GB list | herb | lamiaceae |