Croft Pasture

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.5579, -1.2496

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Leicestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SP509958 — Unfavourable Recovering 6.17 2023-08-07

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous

Description

Area, 6.53 ha. 16.13 ac. Description The site includes unusual Leicestershire examples of acidic mixed grassland which has affinities with certain of the breckland grasslands of eastern England. Biology A thin, open turf has developed on sandy soils associated with outcrops of igneous syenite. The sward is dominated by common bent Agrostis capillaris and crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus, while its open nature allows an unusually large number of annual and biennial herbs to flourish. Species of clover and trefoil are well represented and include hare’s foot clover Trifolium arvense, knotted clover Trifolium striatum, slender trefoil Trifolium micranthum and subterranean clover Trifolium subterraneum, while other herbs include wild onion Allium vineale, hoary cinquefoil Potentilla argentea, Guernsey clary Salvia verbenaca and bird's foot Ornithopus perpusillus. Additional interest is provided by a stretch of the upper River Soar which flows through the site. The river here is a semi natural, moderately fast flowing stream possessing a characteristic marginal vegetation which includes common club rush Schoenoplectus lacustris, yellow iris Iris pseudacorus, water chickweed Myosoton aquaticum and pink water speedwell Veronica catenata.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
common bent Agrostis capillaris LC grass poaceae
crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus LC grass poaceae
crow garlic Allium vineale LC herb liliaceae
yellow iris or flag Iris pseudacorus LC herb iridaceae
water chickweed Myosoton aquaticum Not listed in GB list herb carophyllaceae
bird's foot Ornithopus perpusillus LC herb fabaceae
hoary cinquefoil Potentilla argentea LC herb rosaceae
wild clary Salvia verbenaca LC herb lamiaceae
hare's foot clover Trifolium arvense VU herb fabaceae
slender trefoil Trifolium micranthum LC herb fabaceae
knotted clover Trifolium striatum LC herb fabaceae
subterranean clover Trifolium subterraneum LC herb fabaceae
pink water-speedwell Veronica catenata LC herb plantaginaceae
common club rush Schoenoplectus lacustris LC sedge cyperaceae

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea