Laxton Sykes
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK711674 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 5.48 | 2010-07-09 |
| SK734655 | — | Favourable | 6.09 | 2022-02-04 |
| SK735652 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 1.83 | 2022-02-04 |
| SK735660 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 0.89 | 2010-07-09 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Triassic
Description
Area,15.0 hectares 37.0 ac Description The site comprises some of the best remaining neutral grasslands in Nottinghamshire and is representative of grasslands developed on the Midland clays. Biology The long, narrow grassland strips the sykes adjoining certain of the open fields, continue to be managed as traditional grasslands for hay and occasional grazing and are fine examples of species rich neutral grasslands developed on heavy clays of the Triassic Keuper Marl. The sward is characterised by a wide variety of grass species of which amongst the most abundant are sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, soft brome Bromus hordeaceous, red fescue Festuca rubra, Yorkshire fog Holcus mollis and quaking grass Briza media. The sykes contain a diverse herb flora including such typical plants as cowslip Primula veris, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, pignut Conopodium majus, lady's bedstraw Galium verum, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, hayrattle Rhinanthus minor and, in wetter areas, lady's smock Cardamine pratensis and adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum.
Species mentioned
Show the 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adders-tongue fern | Ophioglossum vulgatum | LC | fern | ophioglossaceae |
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| common soft brome | Bromus hordeaceous | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| creeping soft grass | Holcus mollis | LC | grass | poaceae |
| cuckoo-flower | Cardamine pratensis | LC | herb | brassicaceae |
| pignut | Conopodium majus | LC | herb | apiaceae |
| lady's bedstraw | Galium verum | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| birdsfoot trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | LC | herb | fabaceae |
| cowslip | Primula veris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| yellow-rattle | Rhinanthus minor | DD | herb | orobanchaceae |
| pepper saxifrage | Silaum silaus | EN | herb | saxifragaceae |
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 | Lotus corniculatus |
| New forest Zygaena viciae |
Critically Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula veris |
| Wood white Leptidea sinapis |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Slender scotch Zygaena loti |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp., Rhinanthus minor |
| White-line dart Euxoa tritici |
Vulnerable | Galium verum |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca rubra |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Festuca spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
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.