West Farm Meadow, Boldon
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ358621 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 3.08 | 2024-02-26 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Description West Farm Meadow, Boldon, is important as one of very few surviving semi natural hay meadows in the coastal plain between the Rivers Tyne and Tees. Although once widespread such species rich fields are now severely restricted in distribution because of extensive urbanisation and agricultural intensification. Much of this meadow is characterised by an abundance of great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, a species which, in northern England is indicative of traditionally managed hay meadows. Typically for such meadows sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus are the dominant grasses. Oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, cat’s ear Hypochaeris radicata, bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, pignut Conopodium majus, common sorrel Rumex acetosa and yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor are among other characteristic herbs which bring colour to the meadow.
Species mentioned
Show the 12 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| crested dog's tail | Cynosurus cristatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| Yorkshire fog | Holcus lanatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| pignut | Conopodium majus | LC | herb | apiaceae |
| cat's-ear | Hypochaeris radicata | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| meadow vetchling | Lathyrus pratensis | LC | herb | fabaceae |
| rough hawkbit | Leontodon hispidus | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| oxeye daisy | Leucanthemum vulgare | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| birdsfoot trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | LC | herb | fabaceae |
| yellow-rattle | Rhinanthus minor | DD | herb | orobanchaceae |
| common sorrel | Rumex acetosa | LC | herb | polygonaceae |
| great burnet | Sanguisorba officinalis | LC | herb | rosaceae |