Oridge Street Meadows

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.9484, -2.3016

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable No Change (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO793278 Unfavourable No Change 2.62 2019-09-06
SO793279 Unfavourable No Change 2.62 2019-09-06

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Floodplain · Geological Period: Triassic · Rock Type: Mudstone

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Oridge Street Meadows Description Oridge Street Meadows is of special interest for its nationally rare species-rich lowland meadow grassland. General description: Oridge Street Meadows SSSI consists of three small species-rich lowland meadows to the south of the village of Corse in Gloucestershire. Very few good quality examples of these grasslands remain in Gloucestershire. The meadows lie at about 30 metres above sea level, but out of the nearby River Severn floodplain. Two of the meadows lie south of a minor road, with the third to the north directly opposite. The soils are typical argillic pelosols derived from rocks of the Mercia Mudstone Group of the Triassic era. Characteristic grasses include common bent Agrostis capillaris, sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus, red fescue Festuca rubra and Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus. Common knapweed Centaurea nigra, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, cowslip Primula veris and common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus are frequent. Notable species include green winged orchid Anacamptis morio, bee orchid Ophrys apifera, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis and pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus. There are recent records of adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum in the fields. Species which indicate a calcareous influence include upright brome Bromopsis erecta, quaking-grass Briza media, glaucous sedge Carex flacca, lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus and fairy flax Linum catharticum. There is also a small population of great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis. The hedgerows that surround and divide these fields are diverse and contain dogwood Cornus sanguinea, field maple Acer campestre, blackthorn Prunus spinosa, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, spindle Euonymus europaeus, English elm Ulmus procera, wild privet Ligustrum vulgare and some mature oak Quercus robur trees. Butterflies and day flying moths are common, including six spot burnet Zygaena filipendulae, ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus, meadow brown Maniola jurtina, marbled white Melanargia galatheaa, common blue Polyommatus icarus and large skipper Ochlodes sylvanus.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus LC butterfly nymphalidae
meadow brown Maniola jurtina LC butterfly nymphalidae
large skipper Ochlodes sylvanus LC butterfly hesperiidae
common blue Polyommatus icarus LC butterfly lycaenidae
adders-tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum LC fern ophioglossaceae
common bent Agrostis capillaris LC grass poaceae
sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum LC grass poaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
upright brome Bromopsis erecta LC grass poaceae
crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus LC grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus LC grass poaceae
agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria LC herb rosaceae
green-winged orchid Anacamptis morio NT herb orchidaceae
pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis LC herb orchidaceae
black knapweed Centaurea nigra LC herb asteraceae
spotted orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii LC herb orchidaceae
lady's bedstraw Galium verum LC herb rubiaceae
rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus LC herb asteraceae
fairy flax Linum catharticum LC herb linaceae
birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus LC herb fabaceae
bee orchid Ophrys apifera LC herb orchidaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor DD herb orobanchaceae
great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis LC herb rosaceae
pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus EN herb saxifragaceae
six-spot burnet Zygaena filipendulae Not listed in GB list moth zygaenidae
glaucus sedge Carex flacca LC sedge cyperaceae
dogwood Cornus sanguinea LC shrub cornaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
spindle tree Euonymus europaeus LC shrub celastraceae
wild privet Ligustrum vulgare LC shrub oleaceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
field maple Acer campestre LC tree aceraceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
English elm Ulmus procera LC tree ulmaceae

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

MG4 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture

Alopecurus pratensis-Sanguisorba officinalis grassland

Carex acutiformis, Carex hirta, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium elatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Hypochaeris radicata, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Serratula tinctoria, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum arvense, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sepium, Fritillaria meleagris, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum flavum, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anglica, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Bromopsis erecta, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Chara curta

MG5 — Lowland meadow and pasture, Traditional orchard

Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra grassland

Carex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Knautia arvensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Colchicum autumnale, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla vestita, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Chara curta

MG8 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture

Cynosurus cristatus-Caltha palustris grassland

Carex demissa, Carex distans, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium rostratum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Achillea ptarmica, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum palustre, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Mentha aquatica, Euphrasia nemorosa, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Glyceria declinata, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Dryopteris expansa