Plumpton Pasture

Also within

Northamptonshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Area, 3.8 hectares 9.4 ac Description Plumpton Pasture is an area of unimproved grassland overlying boulder clay, with a pronounced ridge and furrow formation. The vegetation present includes two grassland communities. The well drained ground on the ridge tops supports a herb rich community of the crested dog’s tail common knapweed type, whilst the vegetation on the wetter ground in the furrows conforms to the Yorkshire fog tufted hair grass community type. Both these community types were formerly widespread on this Midland soil type under traditional management but as a result of agricultural change, the crested dog’s tail common knapweed type is now rare both in Northamptonshire and in great Britain. This community is dominated by sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, common bent Agrostis capillaris, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, lady’s bedstraw Galium verum and meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis with frequent crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus, red fescue Festuca rubra, yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus and common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Grassland species associated with this community type include quaking grass Briza media, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis, bitter vetch Lathyrus montanus, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, cat’s ear Hypochaeris radicata and autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis. betony Betonica officinalis is locally abundant in the western part of the site above the pond. The Yorkshire fog tufted hair grass community of the furrows is dominated by the grasses creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, with tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa and herbs such as common knapweed Centaurea nigra, red clover Trifolium pratense and white clover Trifolium repens occurring frequently. The small pond surrounded by hawthorn Crataegus and ash Fraxinus excelsior and the mature hedges forming the boundaries of the field add to the interest of the site.

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.