Charnock Richard Pasture

Also within

Lancashire County

Condition (Natural England)

Description

Description This site lies at an altitude of about 60 metres OD in the valley of the Clancutt Brook, which flows between the villages of Coppull and Charnock Richard, to the southwest of Chorley. It is important as one of the few species rich unimproved grasslands remaining in Lancashire, a habitat which is becoming increasingly scarce nationally due to agricultural intensification. Much of the field is on a steep, south facing slope, although the ground levels out towards the brook which borders the site to the south. The main vegetation community type is knapweed crested dog's tail grassland growing on a thin, dry soil. This encloses smaller flushed and acidic areas which support additional plants. As a whole the pasture is exceptionally diverse, with over 120 plant species recorded, including 26 grasses. Many of these species are characteristic of old meadows, for example pignut Conopodium majus, lady's mantle Alchemilla xanthochlora, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea. The drier areas support an abundance of yellow rattle, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria, the latter a plant that can only thrive where grazing pressures are not heavy. Also present is adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, which is very susceptible to agricultural improvement. Other plants of interest include common centaury Centaurium erythraea, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. Water seepage on the slope has lead to the formation of wetter, flushed areas. Here sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum and jointed rush Juncus articulatus dominate whilst selfheal Prunella vulgaris and greater bird's foot trefoil Lotus pedunculatus are also abundant.

Species mentioned