The Gardens, Great Ashfield

Also within

Suffolk County

Condition (Natural England)

Description

Description This site which consists of four floristically rich ancient meadows is one of the remaining examples of unimproved calcareous clay and neutral grassland in Suffolk. It is traditionally managed by a combination of grazing and cutting for hay and supports a wide variety of grasses and herbs including a population of common twayblade Neottia ovata. The grass sward is dominated by quaking grass Briza media, crested dog's Tail Cynosurus cristatus, red fescue Festuca rubra and glaucous sedge Carex flacca. The herb flora is exceptionally rich and contains many species characteristic of this type of grassland, notably green winged orchid Anacamptis morio and bee orchid Ophrys apifera. Other species include meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulataa, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare and sulphur clover Trifolium ochroleucon. Of additional interest is the presence of a black poplar Populus nigra, possibly a hybrid, which is present on the western boundary.

Species mentioned