Ranters Bank Pastures
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO722749 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 2.11 | 2017-03-06 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous
Description
Description Ranters Bank is a traditionally managed small holding located in north Worcestershire, within the dispersed Worcestershire village of Far Forest, Rock. The pastures slope to the west towards the Lem Brook, which forms the county boundary with Shropshire. The site overlies the Upper Carboniferous Coal Measures, which give rise to neutral to acidic soils. The special interest of this site lies in the diversity of the semi natural grassland sward which has been maintained under traditional management by light grazing. The dominant vegetation is mesotrophic neutral grassland characterised by common knapweed Centaurea nigra and crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus, a nationally scarce and declining grassland type. The proximity of Ranters Bank to the Wyre Forest is likely to provide an important wood edge habitat. The northern pasture conforms to the heath grass Danthonia decumbens sub community, dominated by common bent Agrostis capillaris, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens and red fescue Festuca rubra. Abundant herbs in the sward include common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, cowslip Primula veris, pignut Conopodium majus and devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis, with burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus all occurring frequently. The acidic nature of the sward is demonstrated by the presence of lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica, tormentil Potentilla erectand betony Betonica officinalis. There is also a woodland influence with bugle Ajuga reptans and bitter vetch Lathyrus montanus both present. The pasture contains a number of locally uncommon species, including lady’s mantle Alchemilla filicaulis ssp. vestita and heath spotted orchid Dactylorhiza maculata. The southern pasture, which includes an old cherry orchard Prunus avium, conforms to the meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis sub community with characteristic species including frequent yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, common sorrel Rumex acetosa, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, pignut, black medick Medicago lupulina, meadow vetchling, tufted vetch Vicia cracca and lady’s bedstraw Galium verum. An additional feature of value is that the field boundaries are formed by species rich hedges with ash Fraxinus excelsior, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, holly Ilex aquifolium, hazel Corylus avellana and small trees, particularly damsons Prunus domestica. A small area of woodland adjoining the brook forms part of the boundary of the northern field, containing ash, birch Betula pendula and alder Alnus glutinosa. The invertebrate fauna of the grassland is rich and includes the locally uncommon dingy skipper Erynnis tages, plus meadow brown Maniola jurtina and ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus butterflies.
Species mentioned
Show the 38 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
MG5 — Lowland meadow and pasture, Traditional orchard
Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra grassland
Show 81 indicator speciesCarex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Knautia arvensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Colchicum autumnale, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla vestita, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Chara curta
MG6 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Traditional orchard
Lolium perenne-Cynosurus cristatus grassland
Show 53 indicator speciesJuncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus pratensis, Medicago lupulina, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Iris pseudacorus, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Rumex obtusifolius, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla reptans, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens
W24 — Traditional orchard
Rubus fruticosus-Holcus lanatus underscrub
Show 82 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Solanum dulcamara, Brachythecium rutabulum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Anthriscus sylvestris, Chaerophyllum temulentum, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Achillea millefolium, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Lapsana communis, Solidago virgaurea, Taraxacum officianalis, Alliaria petiolata, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Equisetum arvense, Mercurialis perennis, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens, Vicia sativa, Vicia sepium, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Stachys sylvatica, Chamerion angustifolium, Epilobium hirsutum, Epilobium montanum, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex sanguineus, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Filipendula ulmaria, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Cruciata laevipes, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anisantha sterilis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Trisetum flavescens, Dryopteris filix-mas