Greenhow Pasture

Also within

North Yorkshire County Nidderdale Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Description

Description Greenhow Pasture comprises seven fields on the edge of moorland, noted for their neutral grassland flora. The area has been extensively mined for lead in the past and spoil heaps and hollows in the field provide micro habitats which add diversity to the site. The fields are grazed at present, but in the past the more level areas were cut for hay. The sward is dominated by red fescue Festuca rubra, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus and sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum with hairy oat Avenula pubescens and occasionally meadow oat Alopecurus pratensis. The fields support a rich herb flora which includes abundant cowslip Primula veris, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, hoary plantain Plantago media and lady's mantle Alchemilla vestita. The calcareous nature of the site is evident around the spoil heaps where frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis occurs and particularly in the southern fields, where moonwort Botrychium lunaria and scurvy grass Cochlearia officinalis are widespread. By contrast there are more acidic elements in the flora as evidenced by the presence of deer grass Trichophorum cespitosum and mat grass Nardus stricta.

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.