Mappp.co - Roecliffe Manor Lawns

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Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)

Unit	Feature	Condition	Area (ha)	Assessed
SK531125	—	Favourable	1.28	2009-07-14

Habitats

Upland acid grassland

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Precambrian · Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Description The site supports an unusually diverse community of fungi associated with old unimproved grassland, including a number of species listed in the provisional Red Data List for fungi which are restricted in their distribution in England to such habitats. This type of habitat and its associated rich fungal assemblage is a rare feature in Leicestershire and is generally scarce in the United Kingdom and across much of western Europe. General description Located on thin nutrient poor soils overlying ancient Precambrian rocks of the Beacon Hill Formation, the site comprises a series of gently sloping, closely mown and finely textured lawns within the grounds of Roecliffe Manor. It is one of the few sites in Leicestershire to contain this type of unimproved acid grassland together with a rich fungal assemblage. Its unusual character is largely attributable to its age, lack of agricultural improvement and low nutrient status, together with light grazing by rabbits supplementing a regular mowing regime. The lawns comprise a short, moist, acidic turf characterised by fine leaved grasses including sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, common bent Agrostis capillaris, red fescue Festuca rubrand sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, together with mat grass Nardus stricta, heath grass Danthonia decumbens and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus. Distinctive herbs typical of such grassland communities, such as tormentil Potentilla erecta, mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, heath bedstraw Galium saxatile, heath milkwort Polygala serpyllifolia, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, field wood rush Luzula campestris and sheep's sorrel Rumex acetosella, are also present in varying quantities. Heather Calluna vulgaris forms short but dense carpets whilst bryophytes are also a prominent component of the turf, particularly Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus. A particular feature of the site is the range of species of fungi characteristic of old unimproved grassland contained in the lawns immediately around the house. The community of grassland fungi also reflects subtle variations in soil nutrient status ranging from a lime rich sward near the house to more acidic sheltered areas near the trees. In the autumn the most obvious fungi on display are the waxcap mushrooms Hygrocybe. This site supports a high number of these species making it an outstanding example of unimproved grassland with a diverse fungi community. Some of the more spectacular but common waxcaps found on the site are typical of unimproved old grassland and include Hygrocybe cantharellus, a distinctive small red species, often with a scalloped cap common in wet acid grasslands; H. coccinea, a robust and sticky scarlet cap common in unfertilised pasture and lawns; H. favipes, a fungus with a grey cap which is an uncommon species found in unfertilised grassland and lawns and the parrot waxcap H. psittacina, which is easily recognised by its unique green colour and is associated with unimproved pastures, lawns and woodland glades. The uncommon H. colemanniana is also present and is more characteristic of limestone soils. The pink meadow cap H. calyptriformis, also occurs as part of this assemblage and is largely confined to such habitats in England. Smaller specialist species of fungi present on the site, which are again closely associated with old grassland, include large numbers of Entoloma mushrooms, various genera of grassland fairy clubs or clavarioid fungi and black ascomycete earth tongues. Notable species include the earth tongue Trichoglossum hirsutum, a small black fungus and the spindle shaped club fungus Clavaria fumosa, a whitish, simple fusiform which grows in dense tufts and is found in grasslands in open situations. The former presence of a large elm Ulmus spp. also contributes to the fungal community by supporting the numerous Armillaria bulbosa and indirectly by producing conditions favourable for Camarophyllopsis species and some Entoloma species. Included in this diverse community of grassland fungi are five species included in the provisional Red Data List for fungi; Clavulinopsis umbrinella, Camarophyllopsis stropuncta, C. foetens, Hygrocybe calyptriformis and the pink gilled Entoloma bloxamii. All of these have a restricted distribution nationally and are strongly indicative of unfertilised grassland habitats.

Species mentioned

Show the 17 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status

English name search for this in other sites	Latin name search with Google	IUCN / Red List	Type	Family
fungi	Entoloma bloxamii	Not listed in GB list	fungi	entolomataceae
pink meadow waxcap	Hygrocybe calyptriformis	Not listed in GB list	fungi	hygrophoraceae
common bent	Agrostis capillaris	LC	grass	poaceae
sweet vernal grass	Anthoxanthum odoratum	LC	grass	poaceae
heath grass	Danthonia decumbens	NT	grass	poaceae
sheep's fescue	Festuca ovina	LC	grass	poaceae
Yorkshire fog	Holcus lanatus	LC	grass	poaceae
mat grass	Nardus stricta	LC	grass	poaceae
heath bedstraw	Galium saxatile	LC	herb	rubiaceae
birdsfoot trefoil	Lotus corniculatus	LC	herb	fabaceae
mouse_ear hawkweed	Pilosella officinarum	LC	herb	asteraceae
heath milkwort	Polygala serpyllifolia	LC	herb	polygalaceae
tormentil	Potentilla erecta	LC	herb	rosaceae
sheep's sorrel	Rumex acetosella	NT	herb	polygonaceae
springy turf moss	Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus	LC	moss	hypnales
field wood rush	Luzula campestris	LC	rush	juncaceae
bell heather or ling	Calluna vulgaris	NT	shrub dwarf	ericaceae

Plant communities

M25 — Blanket bog, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland acid grassland

Molinia caerulea-Potentilla erecta mire

Show 85 indicator species

Salix cinerea, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex echinata, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Angelica sylvestris, Carum verticillatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Serratula tinctoria, Cardamine pratensis, Lobelia urens, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Hypericum pulchrum, Hypericum tetrapterum, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza maculata, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Phragmites australis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Osmunda regalis

U2 — Brownfield, Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland

Deschampsia flexuosa grassland

Show 40 indicator species

Betula pendula, Quercus hybrid, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex europaeus, Carex nigra, Eriophorum vaginatum, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus pyriformis, Dicranum scoparium, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum piliferum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Cladonia gracilis, Chamerion angustifolium, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Pteridium aquilinum

U3 — Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland

Agrostis curtisii grassland

Show 34 indicator species

Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex binervis, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Luzula campestris, Dicranum scoparium, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Hypochaeris radicata, Teucrium scorodonia, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Pteridium aquilinum

U4 — Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland

Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Galium saxatile grassland

Show 82 indicator species

Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex caryophyllea, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Lophocolea bidentata, Conopodium majus, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Taraxacum officianalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus montanus, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Thymus praecox, Euphrasia officinalis, Oxalis acetosella, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Polygala serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Viola lutea, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pratensis, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Lolium perenne, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Chara curta

U5 — Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland

Nardus stricta-Galium saxatile grassland

Show 79 indicator species

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Sphagnum papillosum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia uncialis, Cirsium palustre, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum palustre, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Trifolium repens, Narthecium ossifragum, Plantago lanceolata, Polygala serpyllifolia, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Alchemilla alpina, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant