Riverside House Meadow, Hasketon

Also within

Suffolk County

Condition (Natural England)

Description

Description Riverside House Meadow is a floristically rich unimproved meadow. The number of such traditionally managed herb rich meadows has been greatly reduced in recent decades and remain under threat from changes in agricultural practice. The site supports a typically high number of grasses and herbs. The sward is dominated by meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus. Eleven other grass species typical of unimproved meadows have been recorded, such as quaking grass Briza media and sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum. Fifty two plant species other than grasses have been recorded in the meadow including a large number of green winged orchid Anacamptis morio. Herbs characteristic of this community include common knapweed Centaurea nigra, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis and pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus. The presence of meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria in patches indicates areas of poorer drainage and adds variety to the grassland. The meadow is on a gentle north facing slope and situated on slowly permeable neutral to calcareous soils. It is managed traditionally with a summer hay cut and the aftermath is sometimes grazed.

Species mentioned