Bentley Station Meadow
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SU793429 | — | Favourable | 3.17 | 2020-11-06 |
| SU794429 | — | Favourable | 2.0 | 2020-11-06 |
Habitats
Bracken scrub, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream, Mixed scrub, Montane scrub
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| blackcap | Breeding |
| blackcap | Roosting |
| chiffchaff | Breeding |
| chiffchaff | Roosting |
| nightingale | Breeding |
| nightingale | Roosting |
| redstart | Breeding |
| redstart | Roosting |
| whitethroat | Breeding |
| whitethroat | Roosting |
| willow warbler | Breeding |
| willow warbler | Roosting |
Description
Description Bentley Station Meadow is located at the north western corner of Alice Holt Forest, lying on Gault Clay, with an area of dry acidic soil providing local variation. The unimproved herb rich grassland is situated in close juxtaposition to a variety of habitats including scattered scrub, a willow lined stream forming the western boundary to the meadow and ancient semi natural oak woodland surviving on the edge of the Forest in the east. This combination of habitats provides a sheltered environment which is both extremely uncommon in Hampshire and ideal for a remarkably rich invertebrate fauna. Many regionally scarce and local species breed and feed within the site, in particular hoverflies and butterflies. A total of 22 species of butterfly are known to breed, including both the purple emperor Apatura iris and the pearl bordered fritillary Boloria euphrosyne; a further six species visit annually for nectaring purposes. The grassland is dominated by cock’s foot Dactylis glomerata, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa, with locally bracken Pteridium aquilinum and common nettle Urtica dioica. The sward is species rich, with 15 species indicative of ancient meadowland such as sneezewort Achillea ptarmica, bitter vetch Lathyrus montanus, spiny rest-harrow Ononis spinosa, common milkwort Polygala vulgaris, cowslip Primula veris, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, common dog violet Viola riviniana and devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis. Acidic marshy grassland is associated with the western stream and here rushes Juncus spp. are dominant together with common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and common fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica. The meadow is rich in a variety of nectar producing plants such as wild angelica Angelica sylvestris which is an important nectar source for insects and in particular the white admiral Limenitis camilla and silver washed fritillary Argynnis paphia butterflies which breed in the adjacent woodland. Examples of two of the locally uncommon hoverflies utilising the grassland are the yellow and black Sphaerophoria taeniata which prefers the wetter areas and Xanthogramma citrotasciatum favouring the drier grassland and patches of bare ground. Scrub is concentrated in the middle of the meadow, being dominated by hawthorn, blackthorn, pedunculate oak Quercus robur and rose. Willows, in particular Salix caprea and Salix cinerea, are found alongside the stream and are the food plant for larvae of the purple emperor butterfly. The dense patches of scrub are also important for nesting, feeding and roosting birds such as blackcap, chiffchaff, nightingale, redstart, whitethroat and willow warbler. The coppice with standards woodland is dominated by pedunculate oak and ash, with a hazel and hawthorn understorey. The ground flora is diverse being dominated in spring by wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides, yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella and common dog violet – the latter being the food plant of the pearl bordered fritillary. Hoverflies which breed in dead wood are well represented and include the locally uncommon, conspicuous black and red Brachypalpoides leutand the bumble bee mimics Criorhina berberina, C. floccosa and C. ranunculi. Old unimproved meadows adjacent to semi natural ancient woodlands provide an extremely diverse and ecologically rich habitat. Bentley Station Meadow is one of the richest examples of this rare habitat in Hampshire.
Species mentioned
Show the 34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos | VU (Breeding) | bird-robin | muscicapidae |
| redstart | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | LC (Breeding) | bird-robin | muscicapidae |
| chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | LC (Breeding) | bird-warbler | phylloscopidae |
| willow warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus | LC (Breeding) | bird-warbler | phylloscopidae |
| blackcap | Sylvia atricapilla | LC (Breeding) | bird-warbler | sylviidae |
| whitethroat | Sylvia communis | Not listed in GB list | bird-warbler | sylviidae |
| purple emperor | Apatura iris | LC | butterfly | nymphalidae |
| silver-washed fritillary | Argynnis paphia | LC | butterfly | nymphalidae |
| pearl-bordered fritillary | Boloria euphrosyne | VU | butterfly | nymphalidae |
| white admiral | Limenitis camilla | VU | butterfly | nymphalidae |
| bracken | Pteridium aquilinum | LC | fern | dennstaedtiaceae |
| cock's foot | Dactylis glomerata | LC | grass | poaceae |
| tufted hair grass | Deschampsia cespitosa | LC | grass | poaceae |
| Yorkshire fog | Holcus lanatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sneezewort | Achillea ptarmica | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| wood anemone | Anemone nemorosa | LC | herb | ranunculaceae |
| wild angelica | Angelica sylvestris | LC | herb | apiaceae |
| spotted orchids | Dactylorhiza fuchsii | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| wood spurge | Euphorbia amygdaloides | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| bitter vetchling | Lathyrus montanus | Not listed in GB list | herb | fabaceae |
| yellow pimpernel | Lysimachia nemorum | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| spiny rest-harrow | Ononis spinosa | Not listed in GB list | herb | fabaceae |
| wood sorrel | Oxalis acetosella | LC | herb | oxalidaceae |
| common milkwort | Polygala vulgaris | VU | herb | polygalaceae |
| cowslip | Primula veris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| fleabane | Pulicaria dysenterica | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| pepper saxifrage | Silaum silaus | EN | herb | saxifragaceae |
| devils-bit scabious | Succisa pratensis | VU | herb | caprifoliaceae |
| nettle | Urtica dioica | LC | herb | urticaceae |
| common dog violet | Viola riviniana | LC | herb | violaceae |
| hoverfly | Xanthogramma citrotasciatum | Not listed in GB list | hoverfly | syrphidae |
| common oak | Quercus robur | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| goat willow | Salix caprea | LC | tree shrub | salicaceae |
| grey willow | Salix cinerea | LC | tree shrub | salicaceae |
Plant communities
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus 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
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis 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
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula 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
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis 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
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas