Ashton's Meadow
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK786800 | — | Favourable | 3.57 | 2021-11-08 |
Description
Area, 3.6 ha. 8.9 ac. Description The best example of a species rich neutral grassland in East Nottinghamshire. A traditional herb rich hay meadow on ridge and furrow which has not been ploughed since the enclosure. The sward is of even quality throughout and is dominated by cowslip Primula veris, amongst other typical grassland herbs such as ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor and knapweed Centaurea nigra. The field is noted for its quantity of green winged orchids Anacamptis morio. The habitat is scarce in Nottinghamshire and has been considerably reduced in extent across the country as a whole.
Species mentioned
Show the 5 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| green-winged orchid | Anacamptis morio | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| black knapweed | Centaurea nigra | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| ribwort plantain | Plantago lanceolata | LC | herb | plantaginaceae |
| cowslip | Primula veris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| yellow-rattle | Rhinanthus minor | DD | herb | orobanchaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles 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.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Centaurea nigra |
| Marsh moth Athetis pallustris |
Endangered | Plantago lanceolata |
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula veris |
| Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia |
Endangered | Plantago lanceolata |
| Glanville fritillary Melitaea cinxia |
Endangered | Plantago lanceolata |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Plantago spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp., Rhinanthus minor |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Plantago spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Plantago lanceolata |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Plantago spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Plantago spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Centaurea spp. |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea nigra |
Host-plant 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; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.