The Gardens, Great Ashfield
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL998680 | — | Favourable | 3.77 | 2012-06-14 |
Description
Description This site which consists of four floristically rich ancient meadows is one of the remaining examples of unimproved calcareous clay and neutral grassland in Suffolk. It is traditionally managed by a combination of grazing and cutting for hay and supports a wide variety of grasses and herbs including a population of common twayblade Neottia ovata. The grass sward is dominated by quaking grass Briza media, crested dog's Tail Cynosurus cristatus, red fescue Festuca rubra and glaucous sedge Carex flacca. The herb flora is exceptionally rich and contains many species characteristic of this type of grassland, notably green winged orchid Anacamptis morio and bee orchid Ophrys apifera. Other species include meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulataa, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare and sulphur clover Trifolium ochroleucon. Of additional interest is the presence of a black poplar Populus nigra, possibly a hybrid, which is present on the western boundary.
Species mentioned
Show the 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adders-tongue fern | Ophioglossum vulgatum | LC | fern | ophioglossaceae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| crested dog's tail | Cynosurus cristatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| green-winged orchid | Anacamptis morio | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| oxeye daisy | Leucanthemum vulgare | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| common twayblade | Neottia ovata | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| bee orchid | Ophrys apifera | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| pepper saxifrage | Silaum silaus | EN | herb | saxifragaceae |
| sulphur clover | Trifolium ochroleucon | EN | herb | fabaceae |
| glaucus sedge | Carex flacca | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
| black poplar | Populus nigra | LC | tree | salicaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Least minor Photedes captiuncula |
Endangered | Carex flacca |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Populus spp. |
| Scarce chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta |
Vulnerable | Populus spp. |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Trifolium spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca rubra |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Populus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Populus spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Trifolium spp. |
| Latticed heath Chiasmia clathrata |
Near Threatened | Trifolium spp. |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Populus spp. |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca spp. |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Populus spp. |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Carex flacca |
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.