Foster's Green Meadows

Also within

Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Description Foster’s Green Meadows are a nationally important complex of ancient meadows situated on the damp rich soils of the lias clays of north Worcestershire. Eades Meadow has a rich varied flora, notable for the abundance of meadow saffron Colchicum autumnale and green winged orchid Anacamptis morio. These are associated with lowland hay meadows on heavy soils. This community is rich in grass species such as meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and hairy oat grass Avenula pubescens. A particular feature is the abundance of ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, which has been noted nationally as a characteristic of meadows containing an abundance of meadow saffron. Many other interesting plants also occur in this meadow, including adders tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, cowslip Primula veris and dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria. The other meadows through having been subject to many years of spring and summer grazing have developed very different plant communities adapted to this grazing management. These are characterised by the grasses crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus, red fescue Festuca rubra, tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa and common bent grass Agrostis capillaris. The herb content is less rich than Eades Meadow but they still contain many interesting species such as devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis, lady’s mantle Alchemilla vulgaris and hoary plantain Plantago media. The hedgerows associated with the meadows are ancient in character with many large oak Quercus robur and ash Fraxinus excelsior present. Formerly there were also many English elm Ulmus procera, but these have been badly affected by Dutch elm disease. The diversity of vegetation at Foster’s Green encourages an equal richness of insect, bird and mammal life. Fourteen species of butterfly have been recorded. The meadows provide ideal habitat for such birds as curlew Numenius arquata, lapwing Vanellus vanellus, green woodpecker and greater spotted woodpecker Picus viridis and Dendrocopos major, which are regularly seen here.

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.