Loxley Church Meadow

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.1772, -1.6222

Also within

Warwickshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SP259532 Favourable 3.06 2019-04-18

Description

Area, 3.1 ha. 7.7 ac. Description This is a species rich lowland meadow on neutral to calcareous clays lying on the northern edge of the village of Loxley. The presence of ridge and furrow and the richness of the flora indicate that it has not been ploughed for a considerable time. Such meadows are becoming increasingly scarce. The grassland community is characterised by the presence of abundant common knapweed Centaurea nigra and crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus. Other species include common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, cowslip Primula veris, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris and yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor. Noteworthy species include lady’s mantle Alchemilla filicaulis spp. vestita and pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus. There are twenty grass species recorded in the meadow. Near the stream there is a gradation towards a damp ‘tall herb’ community. Additional species present here include meadow cranesbill Geranium pratense, great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius LC grass poaceae
crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus LC grass poaceae
lady's mantle Alchemilla filicaulis VU herb rosaceae
black knapweed Centaurea nigra LC herb asteraceae
great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum LC herb onagraceae
meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria LC herb rosaceae
dropwort Filipendula vulgaris LC herb rosaceae
meadow cranesbill Geranium pratense LC herb geraniaceae
meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis LC herb fabaceae
birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus LC herb fabaceae
ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata LC herb plantaginaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor DD herb orobanchaceae
pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus EN herb saxifragaceae

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
Black-veined moth
Siona lineata
Critically Endangered Centaurea nigra, Lotus corniculatus
New forest
Zygaena viciae
Critically Endangered Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus
Straw belle
Aspitates gilvaria
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Marsh moth
Athetis pallustris
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula veris
Wood white
Leptidea sinapis
Endangered Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus
Heath fritillary
Melitaea athalia
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Glanville fritillary
Melitaea cinxia
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Filipendula ulmaria
Slender scotch
Zygaena loti
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus
Dingy skipper
Erynnis tages
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Plantago spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Centaurea spp., Filipendula ulmaria, Rhinanthus minor
Garden dart
Euxoa nigricans
Vulnerable Plantago spp.
Bedstraw hawk-moth
Hyles gallii
Vulnerable Epilobium spp.
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Plantago lanceolata
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Plantago spp.
Latticed heath
Chiasmia clathrata
Near Threatened Lathyrus pratensis
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Cynosurus cristatus
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Plantago spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Centaurea spp.
Scarce forester
Jordanita globulariae
Near Threatened Centaurea nigra
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Arrhenatherum elatius
Red carpet
Xanthorhoe decoloraria
Near Threatened Alchemilla 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

MG4 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture

Alopecurus pratensis-Sanguisorba officinalis grassland

Matches 10 species from the description above: Arrhenatherum elatius, Centaurea nigra, Cynosurus cristatus, Filipendula ulmaria, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Plantago lanceolata, Primula veris, Rhinanthus minor, Silaum silaus

Carex acutiformis, Carex hirta, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium elatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Hypochaeris radicata, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Serratula tinctoria, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum arvense, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sepium, Fritillaria meleagris, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum flavum, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anglica, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Bromopsis erecta, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Chara curta

MG5 — Lowland meadow and pasture, Traditional orchard

Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra grassland

Matches 10 species from the description above: Arrhenatherum elatius, Centaurea nigra, Cynosurus cristatus, Filipendula ulmaria, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Plantago lanceolata, Primula veris, Rhinanthus minor, Silaum silaus

Carex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Knautia arvensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Colchicum autumnale, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla vestita, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Chara curta

MG8 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture

Cynosurus cristatus-Caltha palustris grassland

Matches 6 species from the description above: Centaurea nigra, Cynosurus cristatus, Filipendula ulmaria, Lotus corniculatus, Plantago lanceolata, Rhinanthus minor

Carex demissa, Carex distans, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium rostratum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Achillea ptarmica, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum palustre, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Mentha aquatica, Euphrasia nemorosa, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Glyceria declinata, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Dryopteris expansa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa