Cobbler's Plain Meadows, Devauden

Also within

Gwent County

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Sandstone

Description

Description Cobbler's Plain Meadows are situated to the north of the village of Devauden at an altitude of between 120-190 metres. The underlying geology is lower Old Red Sandstone and the soils are classified as brown earths of the Milford and Eardiston 1 associations. The meadows are located on a steep western facing slope and are generally freely drained with local minor flushing. The site supports the largest areas in Gwent of a particular unimproved neutral grassland community type as well as plant species which are becoming scarce in the county and nationally. The western meadow supports relatively unimproved neutral grassland of the common knapweed -crested dog's tail Centaurea nigra - Cynosurus cristatus community. The site is unusual in that both these species are sparse here, but another key plant of this community, common bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, is abundant. The grassland is best referred to the Lathyrus pratensis (meadow vetchling) sub-community. The eastern meadow supports a wider range of communities including some grassland in the north west corner similar to the above. The upper part of the field, however, is more typical of an acidic community, the Festuca ovina - Agrostis capillaris - Galium saxatile (sheep's-fescue -common bent -heath bedstraw) grassland. Again, this is an unusual example of the community as sheep's-fescue and heath bedstraw are missing. Grassland in the lower part of the meadow has affinities with both communities and flushes with abundant small sedges are also present. The most frequent grasses throughout are common bent, sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, red fescue Festuca rubra and Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus. Carnation sedge Carex panicea, glaucous sedge Carex flacca and flea sedge Carex pulicaris occur only in the flushes. Adder's-tongue Ophioglossum Vulgatumis present in both meadows. Herbs which are characteristic of unimproved grassland are well represented and include common spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria, fairy flax Linum Catharticum, yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor and devil's-bit scabious Succisa pratensis. Also present in the eastern meadow are common twayblade Neottia ovata, green-winged orchid Anacamptis morio and hairy lady's-mantle Alchemilla filicaulis. Remarks: Adjoins Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Species mentioned

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 host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

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.