Wildflower Meadow
Our meadow is a typical lowland hay meadow, or ancient grassland. It is not a meadow of annual plants, such as poppies and cornflowers, neither of which live in grass meadows. It has a neutral pH and is classified as MG5 according to the National Vegetation Classification.
This was once the ubiquitous type of old meadow in the English lowlands, but due to drainage, ploughing, re-seeding and fertiliser use there is now less than 6,000 hectares remaining in England.
Also known as Cynorurus cristatus – Centaurea nigra grassland, it is typically species rich, with mostly widespread, unsown native plants.
Cynorurus cristatus is the Crested Dog’s-tail grass and Centaurea nigra is Lesser Knapweed. Both are present in the meadow.
Because all the relevant native grasses and flowers are present it means that the food plants of many moths, butterflies and other insects are available.
Knapweed alone is attractive to seven varieties of butterfly as well as bees and hoverflies. In the summer the meadow is full of insects including Chimney Sweepers, tiny black day-flying moths which live in the meadows.
We have added some bulbs to give interest in the early spring and Autumn crocus flowers after the meadow is cut at the end of August.
After cutting, the hay is left for a few days to make sure all the seed is dispersed and then the hay is removed to lower the fertility of the meadow. Too fertile and the grass will be too thick for the native flowers.
If you would like to learn more about meadows and how you can create one, you may be interested in our "Starting a Wildflower Meadow" held in June each year.
Wildflowers in our meadow
Betony Betonica officinalis
Black Knapweed Centaurea nigra
Bluebell Endymion non-scriptus
Broadleaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius
Bugle Ajuga reptans
Cleavers Galium aparine
Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Common Daisy Bellis perennis
Common Mallow Malva sylvestris
Common Mouse-ear Cerastium holosteoides
Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea
Common Solomon’s-seal Polygonatum multiflorum
Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa
Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris
Common Vetch Vicia sativa
Cowslip Primula veris
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense
Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill Geranium dissectum
Dwarf elder Sambucus edulus
Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula
False Oxlip Primula veris x vulgaris
Field Scabious Knautia arvensis
Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata
Giant Bellflower Campanula latifolia
Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum
Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum
Greater Burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella major
Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa
Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea
Hedge Bindweed Calysegia sepium
Hedge Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris
Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica
Hedgerow Crane’s-bill Geranium pyrenaicum
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
Lady’s –smock Cardamine pratensis
Lady’s-mantle Alchemilla mollis
Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea
Lesser Trefoil Trifoium dubium
Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza sp.
Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
Meadow Crane’s-bill Geranium pratense
Meadow Saxifrage Saxifraga granulata
Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis
Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria
Musk Mallow Malva moschata
Nettle Urtica dioica
Nipplewort Lapsana communis
Ox-eye Daisy Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
Pignut Conopodium majus
Oxlip Primula elatior
Primose Primula vulgaris
Ragged- Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi
Red Campion Silene dioica
Red Clover Trifolium pratense
Ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata
Self-heal Prunella vulgaris
Slender Bedstraw Galium pumilum
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Teasel Dipsacus fullonum
White Clover Trifolium repens
White Dead-nettle Lamium album
Wood avens Geum urbanum
Wood Crane’s-bill Geranium sylvaticum
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor
Grasses and Ferns
Annual Meadow Grass Poa annua
Cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata
Common adders tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum
Common Bent Agrostis capillaris
Crested Dogstail Cynosurus cristatus
False Oat Grass Arrhenatherum elatius
Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis
Perennial Ryegrass Lolium perenne
Red Fescue Festuca rubra
Rough Meadow Grass Poa trivialis
Sweet Vernal Grass Anthoxanthum odoratum
Timothy Phleum pratense
Tufted Hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa
Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus
Plants added to the meadow:
Camassia, many varieties
Colchicum, many varieties
Crocus, autumn flowering
Geranium asphodaloides
Geranium psilostemon
Geranium x oxonianum
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Marcissus, many varieties
