Hillend Meadow & Orchard
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO749610 | — | Favourable | 0.74 | 2012-06-21 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Geological Fault · Geological Period: Silurian
Description
Description Hillend Meadow and Orchard is situated in West Worcestershire, just over one kilometre north of Martley and is the westernmost meadow of the Severn Valley grasslands. The meadow and orchard overlie the Lower Ludlow Shales where there is a fault line abutting against the Silurian Wenlock Shales. Thus despite the thin limestones of the Lower Ludlow Shales, the grassland is unusual in being mesotrophic neutral. The geological fault line is probably marked by the spring fed pool found at the top of the site. The site slopes gently to the south west and has an area of pasture with a fenced off orchard to the south east. The majority of the site is cut for hay, although it is lightly grazed by donkeys all year round. Hay is cut in small areas at intervals once the flowers have set seed with natural reseeding from the cut hay. The special interest of the site lies in the diversity of the semi natural grassland sward. The vegetation conforms with the mesotrophic neutral grassland characterised by crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus and common knapweed Centaurea nigra and is typical of the meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis sub community. Dominant grasses are red fescue Festuca rubra and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, with glaucous sedge Carex flacca. The associated flora includes common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, cowslip Primula veris, betony Betonica officinalis, lady’s mantle Alchemilla filicaulis spp vestita, common centaury Centaurium erythraea and common fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica. The locally uncommon adder’s tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum is present. The ditch flora is also of considerable interest including brooklime Veronica beccabunga, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum, greater bird’s foot trefoil Lotus pedunculatus and three different mints including peppermint Mentha x piperita. Mature hybrid black poplar Popular canadensis var. serotina pollards, ash pollards Fraxinus excelsior and guelder rose Viburnum opulus occur along the line of the ditch. The site is bounded by species rich hedges on three sides, with hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, silver birch Betula pendula, hazel Corylus avellana and spindle Euonymus europaeus. The grassland also supports the dark bush cricket Pholidoptera griseoaptera and common blue butterfly Polyommatus icarus, while slow worm Anguis fragilis, grass snake Natrix natrix, common frog Rana temporaria and common toad Bufo bufo occur in the wetter southern area.
Species mentioned
Show the 30 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