Baynhall Meadow

Also within

Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic

Description

Description Baynhall Meadow is located on the East Worcestershire plain near the village of Naunton Beauchamp. It is a traditionally managed hay meadow overlying a medieval ridge and furrow system. The soils are poorly drained and slightly calcareous, derived from the underlying Lower Lias clays of the Jurassic Period. The special interest of this site lies in the diversity of the semi natural grassland sward which has been maintained under traditional management by hay cutting and grazing and is of a type which is nationally scarce and declining. The dominant vegetation is mesotrophic neutral grassland characterised by common knapweed Centaurea nigra and crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus. The undulating topography of the ridge and furrow increases the diversity of the grassland giving rise to two sub communities. Within the seasonally wet furrows the meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis sub community occurs with characteristic species which include meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus, red fescue Festuca rubra, soft rush Juncus effusus, ragged-robin Silene flos-cuculi and meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria. The locally uncommon pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus occurs frequently in this community. In contrast, the ridges have drier, more calcareous base rich grassland of the lady’s bedstraw Galium verum sub community, which forms the greater area of the meadow. Characteristic species frequently occurring here include yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris, red clover Trifolium pratense, agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria, common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare. A particular feature of this meadow is the number of locally uncommon plants which occur frequently within the sward. Of particular note are dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria, adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum and saw wort Serratula tinctoria. The site is bounded on all sides by tall, thick hedgerows dominated by English elm Ulmus procera, ash Fraxinus excelsior, midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata, blackthorn Prunus spinosa, dog rose Rosa canina agg. and blackberry Rubus fruticosus. Pollard willows Salix alba surround a small pond in the north west corner of the meadow.

Species mentioned