Sapperton Meadows

Also within

East Sussex County High Weald Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Description

Area, 14.6ha 36.1 acres Description The site consists of a number of pastures and meadows separated by a well developed network of hedgerows and bordered on the south west by mixed woodland. The fields form what is one of the best examples of contrasting rich pastures and hay meadows in East Sussex which is still being managed by traditional techniques. The soils are derived from the Ashdown beds and are mainly poorly drained. They vary in dampness and one field has many ant hills and traces of ridges and furrows. The fields also vary widely in grazing pressure. These variations result in a mosaic of plant communities. Overall the flora is extremely species rich and diverse, particularly in broad leaved species. Characteristic species present include dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria, lesser spearwort Ranunculus flammula, fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica and a variety of sedges. In general the grassland is dominated by common bent grass Agrostis capillaris, along with Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, daisy Bellis perennis, self heal Prunella vulgaris, red clover Trifolium pratense and ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata. The grazed fields are characterised by lesser knapweed Centaurea nigra, bird's foot trefoil, hairy hawkbit Leontodon saxatilis, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, dyer's greenweed, fleabane, sharp-flowered rush Juncus acutifolius, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and cat's ear Hypochaeris radicata. The presence of quaking grass Briza media suggests local base enrichment. The damper patches are characterised by common sallow Salix cinerea, silverweed Potentilla anserina and fiorin Agrostis stolonifera. There is a small pond in one of the grazed fields with marshy grassland around the margins. Characteristic plants of the hay fields include Yorkshire fog, lesser knapweed and yellow rattle, with common bent grass, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, sneezewort Achillea ptarmica, and hairy hawkbit. Carnation sedge Carex panicea, glaucous sedge Carex flacca, oval sedge Carex leporina and lesser spearwort occur in flushed patches. The rare spiked rampion Phyteuma spicatum RDB, Rare * is known to have been present on the site before 1980. The hedgerows contain many native tree and shrub species suggesting that the field system is old. These hedges provide a habitat for a range of birds and invertebrates. NOTE * Nationally rare species are listed in the relevant Red Data Book RDB, two of which have been published, "British Red Data Book 1, Vascular Plants" and " British Red Data Book 2, Insects". The three RDB categories, Rare, Vulnerable and Endangered indicate increasing degrees of threat of extinction in Britain.

Species mentioned