Naunton Court Meadows

Also within

Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Description Naunton Court Meadows are located in the east of the central Worcestershire plain, on level terrain west of Naunton Court Farm near Naunton Beauchamp. The two meadows are managed as traditional hay meadows with aftermath grazing. The meadows lie on alluvial soils over Lower Lias clays of the Jurassic period, giving rise to neutral soils. 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. Meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus, goat’s beard Tragopogon pratensis and yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor are the dominant species. The southern meadow is characteristic of the meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis subcommunity with meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus and meadow crane’s bill Geranium pratense. The locally uncommon green winged orchid Anacamptis morio is also present. The northern meadow exhibits a more calcareous flora typical of the lady’s bedstraw Galium verum subcommunity, with salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, scattered populations of cowslip Primula veris and the locally uncommon adder’s tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum. The meadows are bounded by hedges with field maple Acer campestre, midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata, spindle Euonymus europaeus, dogwood Cornus sanguinea and buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica. Butterflies present in the meadows include orange tip Anthocharis cardamines and common blue Polyommatus icarus.

Species mentioned