• Unimproved Neutral Grassland

As defined by DEFRA in their Countryside Survey report (2000):

Found on soils that are neither highly acidic nor highly alkaline, Neutral and Semi-Improved Grasslands support a vegetation community that differs from Acid or Calcareous Grasslands. They do not contain calcifuge ('lime-avoiding') plants which as you'd expect are found on acid soils, nor do they contain calcicole ('lime-loving') plants associated with calcareous soils. Neutral and Semi-Improved Grasslands differ from Improved Grasslands in being less fertile and contain a greater diversity of herb and grass species. Unimproved and Semi-Improved Neutral Grasslands may sometimes be managed as hay meadows, pastures or for silage. Their typical rye grass coverage is less than 25%.

 

The selection of frames below demonstrate the typical Unimproved Neutral Grassland habitats located on the farm;

The following table shows the species encountered in this habitat to date:

Common Name Scientific Name
Green Dock Leaf Beetle Gastrophysa viridula
Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus
Common Blue Butterfly Polyommatus icarus
Hogweed Bonking Beetle Meadow Brown Rhagonycha fulva Maniola jurtina
Five Spot Burnet Zygaena trifolii
Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
Ringlet Butterfly Aphantopus hyperantus
Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata
? Micropterix calthella
Yellow Dung Fly Scatophaga stercoraria
Crane-fly Tipula maxima
Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo
Common Green Shield Bug Palomena prasina
Cuckoo Spit Insect Philaenus spumarius
Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus
Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus
Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis
Wolf Spider

Lycosa saccata

 

Birdsfoot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens
Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys
Heath Bedstraw Galium saxatile
Lady's Smock Cardamine pratensis
Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea
Lesser Water-Parsnip Berula erecta
Louse wort Pedicularis sylvatica
Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
Mouse-Ear Chickweed Cerastium vulgatum
Pig Nut Conopodium majus
Silverweed Potentilla anserina
Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor
Carnation Sedge Carex panicea
Cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata
Common Bent Agrostis tenuis
Common Couch Agropyron repens
Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa
Creeping Bent Agrostis stolonifera
Hairy Brome Bromus ramosus
Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis
Perennial Rye Grass Lolium perenne
Red Fescue Festuca rubra
Smooth Meadow Grass Poa pratensis
Timothy Phleum pratense

Unidentified Species

The Bevis Trust