Orchid Bank, Winslow Mill

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.0230, -2.5481

Also within

Herefordshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO624362 Unfavourable Declining 0.52 2021-07-07

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Silurian · Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Area, 0.485 ha. 1.2 ac. Description Orchid Bank, Winslow Mill is a steep south facing pasture lying on the Silurian limestone of the Woolhope Dome. The site is noted for the richness and variety of its vegetation, the calcareous nature of the soils and southerly aspect. The dominant grasses are red fescue Festuca rubra, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum and creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera, whilst glaucous sedge Carex flacca and spring sedge Carex caryophyllea are also abundant. The herbaceous flora contains a number of locally uncommon species such as milk vetch Astragalus glycyphyllos, green winged orchid Anacamptis morio, great butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha. Other orchid species include common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, twayblade Neottia ovata and early purple orchid Orchis mascula. The site is also noted for the presence of wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera LC grass poaceae
sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum LC grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
green-winged orchid Anacamptis morio NT herb orchidaceae
wild liquorice Astragalus glycyphyllos NT herb fabaceae
spotted orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii LC herb orchidaceae
wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus LC herb amaryllidaceae
common twayblade Neottia ovata NT herb orchidaceae
early purple orchid Orchis mascula LC herb orchidaceae
greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha NT herb orchidaceae
spring-sedge Carex caryophyllea NT sedge cyperaceae
glaucus sedge Carex flacca LC sedge cyperaceae