Avenue Meadow

Also within

Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Triassic

Description

Description Avenue Meadow is located on level ground in south Worcestershire immediately to the north of the Worcestershire / Gloucestershire border at the south west edge of the village of Corse Lawn. The meadow is in the central undulating plain of the Severn Valley and overlies Mercia Mudstones of the Triassic Period. The special interest of the site lies in the diversity of the semi natural grassland sward which has been maintained by traditional hay cutting, with aftermath grazing. This mesotrophic neutral grassland is characterised by crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus and common knapweed Centaurea nigra. The meadow flora is typical of the meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis sub community, with frequent common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, red clover Trifolium pratense, lesser trefoil Trifolium dubium, spring sedge Carex caryophyllea and glaucous sedge Carex flacca. However the presence of upright brome Bromus erectus and lady’s bedstraw Galium verum in patches indicates a transition to the lady’s bedstraw sub community. Tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus is frequent on damp ground. Locally uncommon species present include frequent green winged orchid Anacamptis morio and adder’s tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum. Of particular interest is corky fruited water dropwort Oenanthe pimpinelloides, a nationally scarce plant, which is rare in Worcestershire and occurs here close to the northern limit of its distribution. The meadow is bounded on three sides by hawthorn Crataegus monogyna hedges, with occasional blackthorn Prunus spinosa and rose Rosa spp. and on the fourth side by a stream.

Species mentioned

Plant communities