Brotheridge Green Meadows

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.0671, -2.2678

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Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (4)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO816409 — Favourable 1.89 2009-09-29
SO830409 — Favourable 0.72 2009-09-29
SO830410 — Favourable 1.43 2009-09-29
SO833410 — Favourable 1.43 2009-09-29

Habitats

Traditional orchard

Description

Area, 3.68 ha. 9.6 ac. Description The site consists of five small meadows and an orchard lying close to the disused railway line from Upton on Severn to Malvern. They form a series of unimproved meadows which are becoming increasingly rare both in Worcestershire and nationally in lowland Britain. They have been traditionally managed for hay and show a range of plant communities rich in species and typical of meadows of this type. Three major types can be recognised: a. areas dominated by grass species with abundant sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus, tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus and quaking grass Briza media; b. herb rich areas dominated by yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor and lesser knapweed Centaurea nigra; and c. sedge dominated damper areas with an abundance of carnation sedge Carex panicea and meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria. A number of plants indicative of a long history of hay management are also present. These include adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum and green winged orchid Anacamptis morio. Surrounding the meadows are some very fine old hedgerows with a rich variety of shrubs and trees. These provide excellent nesting habitat for many species of bird including green woodpecker Picus viridis, yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella, corn bunting Emberiza calandra and long tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
corn bunting Emberiza calandra CR (Breeding) bird-bunting emberizidae
yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella LC (Breeding) bird-bunting emberizidae
long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus LC (Breeding) bird-tit aegithalidae
green woodpecker Picus viridis LC (Breeding) bird-woodpecker picidae
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
tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus LC grass poaceae
green-winged orchid Anacamptis morio NT herb orchidaceae
black knapweed Centaurea nigra LC herb asteraceae
meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria LC herb rosaceae
yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor DD herb orobanchaceae
carnation sedge Carex panicea NT sedge cyperaceae

Plant communities

MG5 — Lowland meadow and pasture, Traditional orchard

Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra grassland

Carex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Knautia arvensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Colchicum autumnale, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla vestita, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Chara curta

MG6 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Traditional orchard

Lolium perenne-Cynosurus cristatus grassland

Juncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus pratensis, Medicago lupulina, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Iris pseudacorus, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Rumex obtusifolius, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla reptans, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens

W24 — Traditional orchard

Rubus fruticosus-Holcus lanatus underscrub

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Solanum dulcamara, Brachythecium rutabulum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Anthriscus sylvestris, Chaerophyllum temulentum, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Achillea millefolium, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Lapsana communis, Solidago virgaurea, Taraxacum officianalis, Alliaria petiolata, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Equisetum arvense, Mercurialis perennis, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens, Vicia sativa, Vicia sepium, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Stachys sylvatica, Chamerion angustifolium, Epilobium hirsutum, Epilobium montanum, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex sanguineus, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Filipendula ulmaria, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Cruciata laevipes, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anisantha sterilis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Trisetum flavescens, Dryopteris filix-mas