Mappp.co - Merriman's Hill Farm Meadows

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Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)

Unit	Feature	Condition	Area (ha)	Assessed
SP135686	—	Favourable	2.99	2011-07-12

Description

Area, 2.9 ha. 7.1 ac. Description Merriman’s Hill Farm is situated to the northwest of Henley in Arden. The site consists of two species rich neutral meadows on non calcareous clays overlying mudstones of the Keuper marl. An ancient earthwork called Hob Ditch cuts across both fields. Its presence has discouraged cultivation. This lack of cultivation and richness of the meadow flora indicates the site has long remained undisturbed. Such old meadow sites are becoming increasingly scarce in Warwickshire. The grassland community is characterised by crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus and abundant lady’s bedstraw Galium verum. Other characteristic species present include cowslip Primula veris, betony Betonica officinalis, sneezewort Achillea ptarmica, hoary plantain Plantago media and pignut Conopodium majus. Also found within the sward are pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, saw wort Serratula tinctoria, adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum and great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis all of which are scarce in the county. Surrounding the meadows are hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and blackthorn Prunus spinosa hedges containing a range of woody species including holly Ilex aquifolium, gorse Ulex europaeus, dogwood Cornus sanguinea and more important, small leaved lime Tilia cordata – an uncommon plant in the county.

Species mentioned

Show the 17 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
crested dog's tail	Cynosurus cristatus	LC	grass	poaceae
sneezewort	Achillea ptarmica	LC	herb	asteraceae
betony	Betonica officinalis	VU	herb	lamiaceae
pignut	Conopodium majus	LC	herb	apiaceae
lady's bedstraw	Galium verum	LC	herb	rubiaceae
hoary plantain	Plantago media	LC	herb	plantaginaceae
cowslip	Primula veris	LC	herb	primulaceae
great burnet	Sanguisorba officinalis	LC	herb	rosaceae
saw wort	Serratula tinctoria	VU	herb	asteraceae
pepper saxifrage	Silaum silaus	EN	herb	saxifragaceae
dogwood	Cornus sanguinea	LC	shrub	cornaceae
hawthorn	Crataegus monogyna	LC	shrub	rosaceae
blackthorn	Prunus spinosa	LC	shrub	rosaceae
gorse	Ulex europaeus	LC	shrub	leguminosae
holly	Ilex aquifolium	LC	tree	aquifoliaceae
lime small leaved	Tilia cordata	LC	tree	malvaceae

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
Reddish buff Acosmetia caliginosa	Critically Endangered	Serratula tinctoria
Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala	Endangered	Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia	Endangered	Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina	Endangered	Primula veris
Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens	Endangered	Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
Black hairstreak Satyrium pruni	Endangered	Prunus spinosa
Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis	Vulnerable	Crataegus spp., Serratula tinctoria
The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx	Vulnerable	Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Tilia spp.
Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria	Vulnerable	Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia	Vulnerable	Plantago spp.
Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata	Vulnerable	Galium spp.
Garden dart Euxoa nigricans	Vulnerable	Plantago spp.
White-line dart Euxoa tritici	Vulnerable	Galium verum
Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii	Vulnerable	Galium spp.
The lackey Malacosoma neustria	Vulnerable	Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria	Vulnerable	Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Tilia spp.
Silver studded blue Plebejus argus	Vulnerable	Ulex spp.
Lead belle Scotopteryx mucronata	Vulnerable	Ulex europaeus
Brown hairstreak Thecla betulae	Vulnerable	Prunus spinosa
Early moth Theria primaria	Vulnerable	Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi	Vulnerable	Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola	Near Threatened	Crataegus monogyna
Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis	Near Threatened	Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi Antitype chi	Near Threatened	Crataegus monogyna
Garden tiger Arctia caja	Near Threatened	Plantago spp., Prunus spinosa
Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus	Near Threatened	Cynosurus cristatus
Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria	Near Threatened	Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
September thorn Ennomos erosaria	Near Threatened	Tilia spp.
Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa	Near Threatened	Galium spp., Plantago spp.
Tawny speckled Eupithecia icterata	Near Threatened	Achillea ptarmica
Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata	Near Threatened	Betonica officinalis, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Bordered pug Eupithecia succenturiata	Near Threatened	Achillea ptarmica
Double dart Graphiphora augur	Near Threatened	Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
Scarce hook-tip Sabra harpagula	Near Threatened	Tilia cordata
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.