Broad Green

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.2019, -2.3377

Also within

Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO770560 Favourable 1.07 2012-07-09

Description

Area, 0.97 ha. 2.4 ac. Description Broad Green lies in the village of the same name. It consists of an area of neutral grassland with a rich plant community of a type which is rare in this part of the West Midlands. The sward is dominated by grasses such as meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum and cock’s foot Dactylis glomerata. Other plants include some locally uncommon species such as dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, wild carrot Daucus carota, cowslip Primula veris and lady’s bedstraw Galium verum. In the damper parts meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria also occurs. The Green is particularly noted for an abundance of the uncommon grass vetchling Lathyrus nissolia. In recent years some scrub, mainly hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and goat willow Salix caprea, has become established over parts of the site.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
adders-tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum LC fern ophioglossaceae
meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis LC grass poaceae
sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum LC grass poaceae
cock's foot Dactylis glomerata LC grass poaceae
wild carrot Daucus carota LC herb apiaceae
meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria LC herb rosaceae
lady's bedstraw Galium verum LC herb rubiaceae
dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria LC herb fabaceae
grass vetchling Lathyrus nissolia LC herb fabaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus EN herb saxifragaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
goat willow Salix caprea LC tree shrub salicaceae

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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna, Salix spp.
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula veris
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Crataegus spp., Filipendula ulmaria, Salix spp.
Sussex emerald
Thalera fimbrialis
Endangered Daucus carota
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Salix caprea
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Salix spp.
Scarce chocolate-tip
Clostera anachoreta
Vulnerable Salix spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Salix spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Filipendula ulmaria, Galium spp., Salix spp.
White-line dart
Euxoa tritici
Vulnerable Galium verum
Bedstraw hawk-moth
Hyles gallii
Vulnerable Galium spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Salix spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Salix caprea
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Genista tinctoria
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Salix spp.
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Salix spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Salix spp.
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Salix caprea
Large nutmeg
Apamea anceps
Near Threatened Dactylis glomerata
Purple emperor
Apatura iris
Near Threatened Salix caprea
Minor shoulder-knot
Brachylomia viminalis
Near Threatened Salix caprea
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Salix spp.
Dingy mocha
Cyclophora pendularia
Near Threatened Salix caprea
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Salix spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Galium spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Salix spp.
White-spotted pug
Eupithecia tripunctaria
Near Threatened Daucus carota
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Salix spp.
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Dactylis glomerata
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Dactylis glomerata
Swallowtail papilio
Papilio machaon
Near Threatened Daucus carota
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.

Plant communities

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 2 species from the description above: Anthoxanthum odoratum, Filipendula ulmaria

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 2 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna, Dactylis glomerata

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 2 species from the description above: Dactylis glomerata, Filipendula ulmaria

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas