Derrington Meadow
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO608908 | — | Favourable | 3.25 | 2017-01-01 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Devonian
Description
Area, 13.0 ha. 32.1 ac. Description This site is one of the few unimproved, traditionally managed, hay fields remaining in Shropshire. It is situated on Devonian rocks to the north of Brown Clee and consists of the southern half of a large field, the northern part of which has been agriculturally improved. Like several other neutral grasslands in Shropshire, Derrington Meadow supports vegetation which is characterised by the grass crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus and common knapweed Centaurea nigra. The sward is dominated by grasses, the most abundant of which are common bent Agrostis capillaris, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, cock’s foot Dactylis glomerata, red fescue Festuca rubra, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens. Among the most abundant herbs are ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus and bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Less common species include pale sedge Carex pallescens, bitter vetch Lathyrus montanus, devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis, betony Betonica officinalis and pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus. There is a large population of meadow saffron Colchicum autumnale.