Brampton Meadow

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.3336, -0.2511

Also within

Cambridgeshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TL192720 Unfavourable Recovering 0.95 2013-03-20

Description

Description This small species rich meadow exhibits plant communities of the calcareous clay pasture type. Grasslands of this type are restricted to the south of the country and are generally declining due to changes from traditional management practices. The plant community is characterised by the occurrence of species such as quaking grass Briza media, adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum and cowslip Primula veris. Also present are the green winged orchid Anacamptis morio and meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulataa.

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
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
green-winged orchid Anacamptis morio NT herb orchidaceae
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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula veris

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.