Also within
Habitats
Description
Description A biological site selected for its botanical interest. The area consists of two predominantly dry hay meadows and two permanent pastures. The traditional management by hay cutting and grazing without significant agricultural improvements has retained the high floristic interest. A stream runs along one side of the area giving rise to a damper flora dominated by the rushes Juncus effusus and Juncus articulatus with globeflower Trollius europaeus, lady’s smock Cardamine pratensis and heath spotted orchid Dactylorhiza maculata. The hay meadows consist of a variety of grass species including red fescue, Festuca rubra, common bent Agrostis tenuis, timothy Phleum pratense and yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus. Other widespread species include ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, eyebright Euphrasia nemorosa and tormentil Potentilla erecta. The site is noted for its high species diversity and several unusual species including wood bitter vetch Vicia orobus which is abundant, greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis. Bracken Pteridium aquilinum is invading in one area. Remarks This sites lies within the Snowdonia National Park.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bracken | Pteridium aquilinum | LC | fern | dennstaedtiaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| Yorkshire fog | Holcus lanatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| timothy | Phleum pratense | LC | grass | poaceae |
| cuckoo-flower | Cardamine pratensis | LC | herb | brassicaceae |
| spotted orchids | Dactylorhiza fuchsii | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| heath spotted orchid | Dactylorhiza maculata | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| frog orchid | Dactylorhiza viridis | VU | herb | orchidaceae |
| common eyebright | Euphrasia nemorosa | LC | herb | orobanchaceae |
| ribwort plantain | Plantago lanceolata | LC | herb | plantaginaceae |
| greater butterfly orchid | Platanthera chlorantha | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| tormentil | Potentilla erecta | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| yellow-rattle | Rhinanthus minor | DD | herb | orobanchaceae |
| globe flower | Trollius europaeus | VU | herb | ranunculaceae |
| wood bitter vetch | Vicia orobus | VU | herb | fabaceae |
| jointed rush | Juncus articulatus | LC | rush | juncaceae |
| soft rush | Juncus effusus | LC | rush | juncaceae |
Plant communities
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Matches 4 species from the description above: Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Potentilla erecta, Pteridium aquilinum
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis 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
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula 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
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis 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
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus 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
Insects to look out for
These moths and butterflies are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a hostplant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via hostplant |
|---|---|---|
| Marsh moth Athetis pallustris |
Endangered | Plantago lanceolata |
| Golden plusia Polychrysia moneta |
Endangered | Trollius europaeus |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Pteridium aquilinum |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Rhinanthus minor |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Plantago spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Plantago lanceolata |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Plantago spp., Pteridium aquilinum |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Plantago spp. |
Hostplant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation (Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.