Greenhow Pasture
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE117639 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 4.73 | 2012-07-12 |
| SE117640 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 0.53 | 2012-07-12 |
| SE118641 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 1.57 | 2012-07-12 |
Description
Description Greenhow Pasture comprises seven fields on the edge of moorland, noted for their neutral grassland flora. The area has been extensively mined for lead in the past and spoil heaps and hollows in the field provide micro habitats which add diversity to the site. The fields are grazed at present, but in the past the more level areas were cut for hay. The sward is dominated by red fescue Festuca rubra, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus and sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum with hairy oat Avenula pubescens and occasionally meadow oat Alopecurus pratensis. The fields support a rich herb flora which includes abundant cowslip Primula veris, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, hoary plantain Plantago media and lady's mantle Alchemilla vestita. The calcareous nature of the site is evident around the spoil heaps where frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis occurs and particularly in the southern fields, where moonwort Botrychium lunaria and scurvy grass Cochlearia officinalis are widespread. By contrast there are more acidic elements in the flora as evidenced by the presence of deer grass Trichophorum cespitosum and mat grass Nardus stricta.
Species mentioned
Show the 14 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
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IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| moonwort | Botrychium lunaria | VU | fern | ophioglossaceae |
| meadow foxtail | Alopecurus pratensis | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| downy oat grass | Avenula pubescens | LC | grass | poaceae |
| crested dog's tail | Cynosurus cristatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| mat grass | Nardus stricta | LC | grass | poaceae |
| lady's mantle | Alchemilla vestita | Not listed in GB list | herb | rosaceae |
| scurvy grass | Cochlearia officinalis | LC | herb | brassicaceae |
| frog orchid | Dactylorhiza viridis | VU | herb | orchidaceae |
| oxeye daisy | Leucanthemum vulgare | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| hoary plantain | Plantago media | LC | herb | plantaginaceae |
| cowslip | Primula veris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| deergrass, deer sedge | Trichophorum cespitosum | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |