Sotby Meadows

Also within

Lincolnshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Area,7.1 hectares 17.5 ac Description Sotby Meadows are three species rich unimproved grasslands managed traditionally for hay and late grazing. Their value for wildlife is increased by the adjacent green lane and its ancient hedges and the stream which bisects the site. The neutral to lime rich soils derive from the Boulder Clays of the Lindsey Vale and provide suitable conditions for five species of orchid and one of the few locations in the county for moonwort Botrychium lunaria. A wide range of grasses include an abundance of meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus with some quaking grass Briza media, wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum and downy oat grass Avenula pubescens. The northern meadow is characterised by bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus and black knapweed Centaurea nigra associated with pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus. The marshy areas, dominated by hard rush Juncus inflexus, are breeding grounds for snipe and lapwing. The southern meadow supports plants such as rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and great burnet S. officinalis which are dependent on lime rich soils. Other plants typical of unimproved grasslands are adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor and more unusually lady's mantle Alchemilla vulgaris. The aquatic grasses fringing the stream are breeding grounds for reed bunting and sedge warbler. The greatest concentrations of breeding birds are found in tall hedges fringing the green lane where mature ash provide accommodation for hole nesting birds.

Species mentioned

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.

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.

Plant communities