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Natural England Flower Survey results

2 week ago, we had a Botanist visit the farm as part of a flower survey for Natural England. This is his letter back to us and a list of all the species he found whilst doing the survey.
 
Dear Jenni
 
I have attached a list of the plants I recorded on the 16th September whilst surveying the fields for the Species-rich grassland survey for Natural England. I have also included a rough map of my approximate route. I should just note that this is not the full results of the actual survey I was doing for NE, but I wanted to let you know what I saw. As I was 'working' I didn't get a chance to have a look for other species or explore more areas, but I am sure that there are more to find, but at least you have a list to add to if you don't have one already.  
 
I have commented on some species that are of interest and also those that are the Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture (PMGRP) 'indicator' species. These are 'good' species to have - they indicate that the vegetation or habitat is species-rich and typical of PMGRP sites. When surveying each of your two sites for the survey I had to make twenty stops in each and note if there was an indicator species in one square metre. Overall both of your sites have 27 indicator species, showing how species-rich they are. 
 
 
best wishes
Ian

 

 

SPECIES NAME COMMON NAME COMMENT

Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore

Achillea ptarmica Sneezewort A few plants in moor SS36801467, with galls caused by the Diptera fly Rhopalomyia ptarmicae. Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Agrostis canina Velvet Bent

Agrostis capillaris Common Bent

Agrostis stolonifera Creeping Bent

Ajuga reptans Bugle Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Alnus glutinosa Alder

Alopecurus geniculatus Marsh Foxtail

Anagallis tenella Bog Pimpernel Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Angelica sylvestris Wild Angelica Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Asplenium trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens Maidenhair Spleenwort

Athyrium filix-femina Lady-fern

Betula pubescens Downy Birch

Blechnum spicant Hard-fern

Brachypodium sylvaticum False Brome

Callitriche stagnalis Common Water-starwort

Cardamine flexuosa Wavy Bitter-cress

Cardamine pratensis Cuckooflower Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Carex echinata Star Sedge

Carex flacca Glaucous Sedge Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Carex laevigata Smooth-stalked Sedge

Carex nigra Common Sedge Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Carex panicea Carnation Sedge Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Carex paniculata Greater Tussock-sedge

Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear

Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage

Cirsium dissectum Meadow Thistle At least one plant in drier Molinia area in field at SS369145, but heavy grazing made it difficult to judge how much is present. Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle

Corylus avellana Hazel

Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn

Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dog's-tail

Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot

Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted Hair-grass

Digitalis purpurea Foxglove

Dryopteris affinis Scaly Male-fern

Dryopteris dilatata Broad Buckler-fern

Dryopteris filix-mas Male-fern

SPECIES NAME COMMON NAME COMMENT

Elytrigia repens Common Couch

Epilobium obscurum Short-fruited Willowherb

Epilobium palustre Marsh Willowherb

Equisetum fluviatile Water Horsetail In very wet rush-pasture SS36901469

Fagus sylvatica Beech

Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry

Fraxinus excelsior Ash

Galeopsis tetrahit Common Hemp-nettle

Galium aparine Cleavers

Galium palustre Common Marsh-bedstraw Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Galium uliginosum Fen Bedstraw A few patches in tall-herb area at SS36791470 and SS36791466. Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Geranium robertianum Herb-Robert

Glyceria declinata Small Sweet-grass

Glyceria fluitans Floating Sweet-grass

Gnaphalium uliginosum Marsh Cudweed

Hedera helix subsp. hibernica Atlantic Ivy

Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed

Hieracium umbellatum Umbellate Hawkweed

Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog

Holcus mollis Creeping Soft-grass

Hypericum androsaemum Tutsan

Hypericum undulatum Wavy St John's-wort Several plants in rush-pasture at SS367146. Not a Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species on Natural England’s list but a Nationally Scarce species restricted to Devon, Cornwall and SW Wales. Culm Grassland is classic habitat for it.

Hypochaeris radicata Cat's-ear

Ilex aquifolium Holly

Impatiens glandulifera Indian Balsam Invasive alien seen in tall-herb areas or moor at SS367146

Juncus acutiflorus Sharp-flowered Rush Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Juncus bufonius Toad Rush

Juncus conglomeratus Compact Rush Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Juncus effusus Soft-rush Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling

Lolium perenne Perennial Rye-grass

Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle

Lotus pedunculatus Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Lychnis flos-cuculi Ragged-Robin Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Lythrum salicaria Purple-loosestrife

Mentha aquatica Water Mint Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Molinia caerulea Purple Moor-grass Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture

SPECIES NAME COMMON NAME COMMENT indicator species

Myosotis secunda Creeping Forget-me-not

Nardus stricta Mat-grass Some in drier Molinia area in field at SS369145. Not much in NW Devon.

Oenanthe crocata Hemlock Water-dropwort

Oxalis acetosella Wood-sorrel

Pedicularis sylvatica Lousewort Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Persicaria hydropiper Water-pepper

Persicaria maculosa Redshank

Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary-grass

Phleum pratense Timothy

Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain

Plantago major Greater Plantain

Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass

Polygonum aviculare Knotgrass

Polypodium sp. Polypody

Populus tremula Aspen

Potentilla erecta Tormentil Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Potentilla palustris Marsh Cinquefoil In very wet rush-pasture SS36901469. Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil

Potentilla sterilis Barren Strawberry

Primula vulgaris Primrose

Prunus spinosa Blackthorn

Pteridium aquilinum Bracken

Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak

Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup

Ranunculus flammula Lesser Spearwort Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup

Rosa arvensis Field-rose

Rosa sherardii Sherard's Downy-rose In hedge at SS365144

Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble

Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel

Rumex conglomeratus Clustered Dock

Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock

Rumex sanguineus Wood Dock

Salix aurita Eared Willow

Salix cinerea subsp. oleifolia Grey Willow

Senecio aquaticus Marsh Ragwort

Silene dioica Red Campion

Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet

Sorbus aucuparia Rowan

Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort

Stellaria uliginosa Bog Stitchwort

Succisa pratensis Devil's-bit Scabious Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Taraxacum officinale agg. Dandelion

Trifolium repens White Clover

Ulmus glabra Wych Elm

SPECIES NAME COMMON NAME COMMENT

Urtica dioica Common Nettle

Valeriana officinalis Common Valerian Purple Moor-grass and rush-pasture indicator species

Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell

Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch

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