Pine Lodge Meadow
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Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Silurian
Description
Description Pine Lodge Meadow is of special interest for its stand of species-rich neutral grassland. Such grassland has declined markedly in recent times, principally through widespread agricultural intensification. The site consists of a single small hay-meadow situated on a moderate north-west facing slope, approximately 2km east of the village of Rhydargaeau to the north of Carmarthen. The underlying geology comprises rocks of Silurian age, overlain by freely draining brown earth soil. Altitude ranges from 225-235 metres. Common grasses in the sward include common bent Agrostis capillaris, sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, red fescue Festuca rubra and cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata. These are accompanied by a high cover and rich diversity of forbs, including common knapweed Centaurea nigra, common bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, cat’s-ear Hypochaeris radicata, eyebright Euphrasia officinalis agg., yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor and tormentil Potentilla erecta. In the west of the site, where the soil becomes more acidic, the sward is characterised by a higher frequency of tormentil, together with a scattering of heath-grass Danthonia decumbens and sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina. Pine Lodge Meadow also holds some uncommon species interest in the form of greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha and moonwort Botrychium lunaria.
Species mentioned
Show the 14 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
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IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| moonwort | Botrychium lunaria | VU | fern | ophioglossaceae |
| common bent | Agrostis capillaris | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| cock's foot | Dactylis glomerata | LC | grass | poaceae |
| heath grass | Danthonia decumbens | NT | grass | poaceae |
| sheep's fescue | Festuca ovina | LC | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| black knapweed | Centaurea nigra | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| English sticky eyebright | Euphrasia officinalis | LC | herb | orobanchaceae |
| cat's-ear | Hypochaeris radicata | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| birdsfoot trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | LC | herb | fabaceae |
| greater butterfly orchid | Platanthera chlorantha | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| tormentil | Potentilla erecta | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| yellow-rattle | Rhinanthus minor | DD | herb | orobanchaceae |