Derrington Meadow

Also within

Shropshire County Shropshire Hills Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Devonian

Description

Area, 13.0 ha. 32.1 ac. Description This site is one of the few unimproved, traditionally managed, hay fields remaining in Shropshire. It is situated on Devonian rocks to the north of Brown Clee and consists of the southern half of a large field, the northern part of which has been agriculturally improved. Like several other neutral grasslands in Shropshire, Derrington Meadow supports vegetation which is characterised by the grass crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus and common knapweed Centaurea nigra. The sward is dominated by grasses, the most abundant of which are common bent Agrostis capillaris, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, cock’s foot Dactylis glomerata, red fescue Festuca rubra, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens. Among the most abundant herbs are ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus and bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Less common species include pale sedge Carex pallescens, bitter vetch Lathyrus montanus, devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis, betony Betonica officinalis and pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus. There is a large population of meadow saffron Colchicum autumnale.

Species mentioned

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.

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.