Houghton Meadows
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL293716 | — | Favourable | 4.73 | 2022-07-12 |
Description
Description These ridge and furrow meadows hold neutral grassland communities of a type now rare in Cambridgeshire and declining nationally. They are akin to the calcareous pasture type which is geographically restricted to the south of the country. Characteristic plant species include lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, downy oat grass Avenula pubescens, cowslip Primula veris and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba. The rich variety of broadleaved herbs also includes common knapweed Centaurea nigra, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and meadow crane’s bill Geranium pratense.
Species mentioned
Show the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| downy oat grass | Avenula pubescens | LC | grass | poaceae |
| black knapweed | Centaurea nigra | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| meadow sweet | Filipendula ulmaria | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| lady's bedstraw | Galium verum | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| meadow cranesbill | Geranium pratense | LC | herb | geraniaceae |
| salad burnet | Poterium sanguisorba | VU | herb | rosaceae |
| cowslip | Primula veris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Centaurea nigra |
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula veris |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Filipendula ulmaria |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Poterium sanguisorba |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp., Filipendula ulmaria, Galium spp. |
| White-line dart Euxoa tritici |
Vulnerable | Galium verum |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Poterium sanguisorba |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Centaurea spp. |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea nigra |
| 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.