Racecourse Farm Fields

Also within

Northamptonshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Area, 4.6 hectares 11.4 ac Description A small meadow on the site of a former limestone quarry, comprising an excellent example of grazed Jurassic limestone grassland. This vegetation type is confined to the Cotswolds and a discrete part of the East Midlands. The short sward, produced by all year round grazing of sheep and cattle, shows interesting contrasts with the nearby Collyweston Quarries and Barnack Hills and Holes SSSIs. The sward is floristically rich, parts containing more than 30 flowering plant species in a square metre. Upright brome Bromus erectus, red fescue Festuca rubra, or tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum are the dominant grasses. Quaking grass Briza media, crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina and glaucous sedge Carex flacca are abundant throughout. A number of county rarities and locally uncommon plants are present including rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and dodder Cuscuta epithymum. Several small pits provide microclimatic and soil differences which extend the range of species and habitats; one pit has an exposure of geological interest.

Species mentioned