Coalville Meadows
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK446151 | — | Favourable | 5.98 | 2023-07-19 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Triassic
Description
Area,6.2 ha15.3 ac Description The site comprises one of the best examples of neutral grassland developed on somewhat leached clay soils in Leicestershire and is representative of such grassland swards in Central and Eastern England. Biology Coalville Meadows have developed on soils derived from the clays of the Triassic Keuper Marl. The grassland is generally rather poorly drained being dominated by tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, red fescue Festuca rubra and great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis. Although there is some variation, the herb flora is essentially typical of relatively base poor clay soils being characterised by plants such as pignut Conopodium majus, betony Betonica officinalis, heath bedstraw Galium saxatile, tormentil Potentilla erecta, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis and mat grass Nardus stricta. Nevertheless the grassland is essentially neutral in character and includes such typical meadow species as saw wort Serratula tinctoria, meadow thistle Cirsium dissectum, knapweed Centaurea nigra and lady's smock Cardamine pratensis.
Species mentioned
Show the 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tufted hair grass | Deschampsia cespitosa | LC | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| Yorkshire fog | Holcus lanatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| mat grass | Nardus stricta | LC | grass | poaceae |
| betony | Betonica officinalis | VU | herb | lamiaceae |
| cuckoo-flower | Cardamine pratensis | LC | herb | brassicaceae |
| black knapweed | Centaurea nigra | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| meadow thistle | Cirsium dissectum | EN | herb | asteraceae |
| pignut | Conopodium majus | LC | herb | apiaceae |
| heath bedstraw | Galium saxatile | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| tormentil | Potentilla erecta | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| great burnet | Sanguisorba officinalis | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| saw wort | Serratula tinctoria | VU | herb | asteraceae |
| devils-bit scabious | Succisa pratensis | VU | herb | caprifoliaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Reddish buff Acosmetia caliginosa |
Critically Endangered | Serratula tinctoria |
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Centaurea nigra |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Serratula tinctoria |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Succisa pratensis |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp., Galium spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Potentilla erecta |
| The anomalous Stilbia anomala |
Vulnerable | Deschampsia cespitosa |
| Hedge rustic Tholera cespitis |
Vulnerable | Nardus stricta |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Festuca spp., Nardus stricta |
| Small mountain ringlet Erebia epiphron |
Near Threatened | Nardus stricta |
| The Silurian Eriopygodes imbecilla |
Near Threatened | Galium saxatile |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Betonica officinalis, Centaurea spp. |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea nigra |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Holcus lanatus |
| 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.