Godmanchester Eastside Common

Also within

Cambridgeshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Description

Area, 28.4 hectares 70.1 ac. Description The site consists of two areas of neutral grassland separated by a dismantled railway line. The main grassland types which are represented are known as calcareous loam and calcareous clay pasture types and both are of restricted extent and distribution throughout the British Isles and in the East Midlands region. The large field to the south of the disused railway line contains prominent ridge and furrow features and many ant hills. The sward is locally dominated by tussocks of hard rush Juncus inflexus and tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa, but fine grasses are predominant over large areas. A large number of grass species are present on both parts of the site of particular note are crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha, heath grass Danthonia decumbens, quaking grass Briza media and meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis. Characteristic herbs include devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus and lady’s bedstraw Galium verum. Of particular note is the presence of meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulataa and trailing tormentil Potentilla anglica on the bank to the north of the old railway. The adjacent small hay meadow represents a flood meadow type of grassland and holds a different range of plants including patches of brown sedge Carex disticha and great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis. The grassland is bordered by hedgerows and ditches and further habitat features include two ponds which are of additional wildlife value.

Species mentioned