New House Meadow

Also within

Powys County

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Cambrian

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Description This site comprises a single field and adjacent roadside bank lying on gently sloping ground above the flood plain of the River Wye at Rhayader. It is an excellent example of a type of herb-rich grassland that is characteristic of the upland fringe of mid-Wales. Such sites are becoming increasingly rare as a result of agricultural intensification. Much of the drier grassland is dominated by mixtures of 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, pignut Conopodium majus, common bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, tormentil Potentilla erecta and betony Betonica officinalis are frequent throughout this community. Other characteristic associates include heath-grass Danthonia decumbens, bitter-vetch Lathyrus montanus, devil's-bit scabious Succisa pratensis and burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga. 'Woodland' species such as wood anemone Anemone nemorosa and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta are locally prominent, as are locally uncommon plants such as adder's-tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, greater butterfly-orchid Platanthera chlorantha and the nationally scarce wood bitter-vetch Vicia orobus. Particularly good colonies of the latter species occur on the roadside bank beyond the western boundary of the field. Remarks: The site lies within the Cambrian Mountains Environmentally Sensitive Area. The western boundary of the site includes the roadside verge.

Species mentioned

Plant communities