Mappp.co - Bucknell Wood Meadows

Also within

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (2) Favourable (1)

Unit	Feature	Condition	Area (ha)	Assessed
SP640448	—	Unfavourable Recovering	6.84	2013-09-02
SP644449	—	Unfavourable Recovering	1.26	2013-09-02
SP645450	—	Favourable	1.12	2013-09-02

Habitats

Mixed scrub, Montane scrub

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Area, 8.7 hectares 21.5 acDescription Bucknell Wood Meadows comprise a series of small unimproved fields which overlie seasonally water logged soils derived from Boulder Clay. Of the several neutral grassland communities represented, the most widespread is the common knapweed/crested dog's tail grassland type, which is now rare both within Northamptonshire and nationally. The sward associated with the common knapweed/crested dog's tail community is herb rich and supports a diverse range of plant species. There is considerable variation in its composition throughout the site resulting partly from local soil and drainage conditions and partly from past management practices. The grasses, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus, red fescue Festuca rubra and cock's foot Dactylis glomerata, glaucous sedge Carex flacca and the herbs common knapweed Centaurea nigra, common bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis and clovers Trifolium repens and Trifolium pratense are generally abundant. Other species characteristic of this grassland type which occur occasionally include quaking grass Briza media, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, common spotted orchid Dacylorhiza fuchsii, adder's tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, field wood rush Luzula campestris and rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus. Some fields are noticeably herb dominated and contain frequent rosette forming species such as autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Leontodon hispidus and cat's ear Hypochaeris radicata. In othe rareas where more acidic conditions prevail betony Betonica officinalis and tormentil Potentilla erecta are common. A second community type, Yorkshire fog/tufted hair grass coarse grassland occurs in the poorly drained areas around drainage channels and in some of the deeper furrows. Tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, rough meadow grass Poa trivialis and hard rush Juncus inflexus dominate the sward with ragged-robin Silene flos-cuculi and greater bird's foot trefoil Lotus pedunculatus also present. Scattered scrub, numerous ant hills and the mature hedges and trees forming the boundaries of the fields provide additional habitats for wildlife.

Species mentioned

Show the 26 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
adders-tongue fern	Ophioglossum vulgatum	LC	fern	ophioglossaceae
sweet vernal grass	Anthoxanthum odoratum	LC	grass	poaceae
quaking grass	Briza media	VU	grass	poaceae
crested dog's tail	Cynosurus cristatus	LC	grass	poaceae
cock's foot	Dactylis glomerata	LC	grass	poaceae
tufted hair grass	Deschampsia cespitosa	LC	grass	poaceae
red fescue	Festuca rubra	LC	grass	poaceae
Yorkshire fog	Holcus lanatus	LC	grass	poaceae
rough meadow grass	Poa trivialis	LC	grass	poaceae
betony	Betonica officinalis	VU	herb	lamiaceae
black knapweed	Centaurea nigra	LC	herb	asteraceae
cat's-ear	Hypochaeris radicata	LC	herb	asteraceae
meadow vetchling	Lathyrus pratensis	LC	herb	fabaceae
rough hawkbit	Leontodon hispidus	LC	herb	asteraceae
birdsfoot trefoil	Lotus corniculatus	LC	herb	fabaceae
greater bird's-foot trefoil	Lotus pedunculatus	LC	herb	fabaceae
tormentil	Potentilla erecta	LC	herb	rosaceae
meadow buttercup	Ranunculus acris	DD	herb	ranunculaceae
greater hawkbit	Scorzoneroides autumnalis	LC	herb	asteraceae
ragged-robin	Silene flos-cuculi	LC	herb	carophyllaceae
devils-bit scabious	Succisa pratensis	VU	herb	caprifoliaceae
red clover	Trifolium pratense	LC	herb	fabaceae
white clover	Trifolium repens	LC	herb	fabaceae
hard rush	Juncus inflexus	LC	rush	juncaceae
field wood rush	Luzula campestris	LC	rush	juncaceae
glaucus sedge	Carex flacca	LC	sedge	cyperaceae

Plant communities

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 6 species from the description above: Anthoxanthum odoratum, Carex flacca, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Ranunculus acris, Succisa pratensis

Show 107 indicator species

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 4 species from the description above: Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Poa trivialis

Show 49 indicator species

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Dactylis glomerata, Holcus lanatus, Poa trivialis

Show 81 indicator species

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas

Insects to look out for

These moths and butterflies are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

Species	Status	Via host-plant
Black-veined moth Siona lineata	Critically Endangered	Centaurea nigra, Lotus corniculatus
New forest Zygaena viciae	Critically Endangered	Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus
Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria	Endangered	Lotus corniculatus
Wood white Leptidea sinapis	Endangered	Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus
Least minor Photedes captiuncula	Endangered	Carex flacca
Slender scotch Zygaena loti	Endangered	Lotus corniculatus
Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis	Vulnerable	Lotus corniculatus
Dingy skipper Erynnis tages	Vulnerable	Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus
Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia	Vulnerable	Succisa pratensis
Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata	Vulnerable	Centaurea spp.
Garden dart Euxoa nigricans	Vulnerable	Trifolium spp.
Grayling Hipparchia semele	Vulnerable	Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra
Silver studded blue Plebejus argus	Vulnerable	Lotus corniculatus
Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae	Vulnerable	Potentilla erecta
The anomalous Stilbia anomala	Vulnerable	Deschampsia cespitosa
Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis	Near Threatened	Ranunculus spp., Trifolium spp.
Large nutmeg Apamea anceps	Near Threatened	Dactylis glomerata
Latticed heath Chiasmia clathrata	Near Threatened	Lathyrus pratensis, Trifolium repens, Trifolium spp.
Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus	Near Threatened	Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca spp., Poa spp.
Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata	Near Threatened	Betonica officinalis, Centaurea spp.
Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae	Near Threatened	Centaurea nigra
Wall Lasiommata megera	Near Threatened	Dactylis glomerata, Holcus lanatus
Rosy minor Litoligia literosa	Near Threatened	Carex flacca, Dactylis glomerata

Hostplant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation (Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.