Olchon Farm Meadows
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO301310 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 0.47 | 2011-10-06 |
| SO302308 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 2.21 | 2022-03-31 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Sandstone
Description
Description An example of the ancient unimproved upland pastures, which were once a characteristic feature of this district but are now scarce owing to changes in agricultural practice. The two meadows lie on soils derived from the Old Red Sandstone and present an interesting contrast. The main meadow has traditionally been managed for hay and aftermath grazing and lies on a north east facing slope above the Olchon brook. The dominant grasses are sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, red fescue Festuca rubra, common bent Agrostis capillaris and slender brome Bromus lepidus. The herbaceous flora is outstandingly rich and includes meadow saffron Colchicum autumnale, bitter vetch Lathyrus montanus, bistort Polygonum bistorta and devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis as well as a number of plants of globe flower Trollius europaeus at one of its most southerly sites in Britain. The second field lies on the opposite side of the brook further upstream and is used as a pasture. It is wetter and has a contrasting flora. The plants occurring here include greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and betony Betonica officinalis. The site is bordered by a brook and hedgerows with their own rich and varied flora and fauna adding to the overall conservation value.
Species mentioned
Show the 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| common bent | Agrostis capillaris | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| slender soft brome | Bromus lepidus | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| betony | Betonica officinalis | VU | herb | lamiaceae |
| autumn crocus or meadow saffron | Colchicum autumnale | NT | herb | colchicaceae |
| bitter vetchling | Lathyrus montanus | Not listed in GB list | herb | fabaceae |
| burnet saxifrage | Pimpinella saxifraga | NT | herb | apiaceae |
| greater butterfly orchid | Platanthera chlorantha | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| bistort | Polygonum bistorta | Not listed in GB list | herb | polygonaceae |
| devils-bit scabious | Succisa pratensis | VU | herb | caprifoliaceae |
| globe flower | Trollius europaeus | VU | herb | ranunculaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Golden plusia Polychrysia moneta |
Endangered | Trollius europaeus |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Succisa pratensis |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca rubra |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Festuca spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Betonica officinalis, Pimpinella saxifraga |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp. |
| Swallowtail papilio Papilio machaon |
Near Threatened | Pimpinella saxifraga |
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.