Field Head Meadow
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SD725524 | — | Favourable | 3.33 | 2013-06-28 |
Habitats
Description
Description Field Head Meadow lies at an altitude of 210 metres OD, approximately 1.3 kilometres east of the village of Slaidburn. The site consists of a single field of enclosed, moderately herb rich hay meadow, typical of its type in northern England. Field Head Meadow is one of the few remaining herb rich grasslands present in this part of Lancashire. This vulnerable habitat has become increasingly scarce nationally and has been largely destroyed in Lancashire dueto agricultural intensification. The meadow is a variant of the 'northern hay meadow' type. It is characterised by sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, red fescue Festuca rubra, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus, rough meadow grass Poa trivialis and field wood rush Luzula campestris with greater burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, yellow raffle Rhinanthus minor, lady’s mantle Alchemilla glabra, eyebright Euphrasia agg. and pignut Conopodium majus. Other species present also include abundant ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, red clover Trifolium pratense, meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris, daisy Bellis perennis and common sorrel Rumex acetosa. Yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis, common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, smooth hawk’s beard Crepis capillaris and meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis are also occasionally present in the sward.
Species mentioned
Show the 21 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
MG3 — Northern hay meadow
Anthoxanthum odoratum-Geranium sylvaticum grassland
Show 88 indicator speciesCarex caryophyllea, Carex panicea, Luzula campestris, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium cuspidatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Anthriscus sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium heterophyllum, Crepis paludosa, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis discolor, Cardamine pratensis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria media agg., Equisetum arvense, Lathyrus montanus, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium medium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia sativa, Vicia sepium, Geranium sylvaticum, Ajuga reptans, Thymus praecox, Orchis mascula, Euphrasia nemorosa, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla acutiloba, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla glomerulans, Alchemilla monticola, Alchemilla subcrenata, Alchemilla vestita, Alchemilla wichurae, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Potentilla erecta, Sanguisorba officinalis, Saxifraga granulata, Viola lutea, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens