Highclere
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP011480 | — | Favourable | 1.04 | 2012-07-18 |
Description
Description Highclere is located one kilometre west of Wood Norton. It is the easternmost of the Severn Valley grasslands and lies on a south facing slope on a ridge of Rhaetic Limestonein south east Worcestershire. This ridge gives rise to alkaline soils, favouring a calcicole lime loving flora. The interest is maintained by regular mowing in early spring and autumn, leaving the herbs to flower and seed in the summer. The special interest of the site lies in the diversity of the semi natural grassland characterised by upright brome Bromus erectus with sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, glaucous sedge Carex flacca, common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, cowslip Primula veris, common knapweed Centaurea nigra and agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria. Other characteristic calcicole herbs are yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, common centaury Centaurium erythraea, zigzag clover Trifolium medium, hairy violet Viola hirta, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, wild thyme Thymus praecox, eyebright Euphrasia sp. and blue fleabane Erigeron acris. Locally uncommon species of orchid include greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, over 200 flowering spikes of bee orchid Ophrys apifera and pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis. The nationally rare early gentian Gentianella anglica, a Schedule 8 species, is found here and at only one other locality in Worcestershire.