Normanton Pastures
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK624331 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 9.41 | 2014-03-28 |
| SK626332 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 6.92 | 2014-03-28 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Triassic
Description
Area,16.74 hectares 41.35 ac Description The site comprises one of the best remaining examples of neutral pasture in Nottinghamshire and is representative of species rich grasslands developed on clay loam soils in Central and Eastern England. Biology The pasture lies on ridge and furrow topography and has developed on soils derived from clays of the Triassic Keuper Marl series. The grassland community is characterised by the abundance of crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus, cock's foot Dactylis glomerata, perennial rye grass Lolium perenne, yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens, common bent Agrostis capillaris and quaking grass Briza media and possess a wide range of herbs including pignut Conopodium majus, hayrattle Rhinanthus minor, cowslip Primula veris, sorrel Rumex acetosa, lady's mantle Alchemilla vestita, meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulataa and adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum. There is evidence that the soils become calcareous locally since in some areas the grassland community changes to include such calcicolous plant species as upright brome Bromopsis erecta, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and hairy violet Viola hirta.
Species mentioned
Show the 15 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 |
| common bent | Agrostis capillaris | LC | grass | poaceae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| upright brome | Bromopsis erecta | LC | grass | poaceae |
| crested dog's tail | Cynosurus cristatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| cock's foot | Dactylis glomerata | LC | grass | poaceae |
| perennial rye-grass | Lolium perenne | LC | grass | poaceae |
| yellow oat grass | Trisetum flavescens | LC | grass | poaceae |
| lady's mantle | Alchemilla vestita | Not listed in GB list | herb | rosaceae |
| pignut | Conopodium majus | LC | herb | apiaceae |
| salad burnet | Poterium sanguisorba | VU | herb | rosaceae |
| cowslip | Primula veris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| yellow-rattle | Rhinanthus minor | DD | herb | orobanchaceae |
| common sorrel | Rumex acetosa | LC | herb | polygonaceae |
| hairy violet | Viola hirta | LC | herb | violaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| High brown fritillary Fabriciana adippe |
Critically Endangered | Viola hirta |
| Chequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon |
Endangered | Bromopsis erecta |
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula veris |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Rumex acetosa |
| Fiery clearwing Pyropteron chrysidiformis |
Endangered | Rumex acetosa |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Poterium sanguisorba |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Rumex spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Rhinanthus minor |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Rumex spp. |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Poterium sanguisorba |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| Large nutmeg Apamea anceps |
Near Threatened | Dactylis glomerata |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Cynosurus cristatus |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Dactylis glomerata |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Dactylis glomerata |
| Red carpet Xanthorhoe decoloraria |
Near Threatened | Alchemilla spp. |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Rumex 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.