Bellerby Fields
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE111931 | — | Favourable | 2.75 | 2011-06-01 |
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| cuckoo | Unknown |
Description
Description Bellerby Fields are of special interest for their areas of unimproved neutral grassland of a type that is rare and threatened at the local and national levels. The nature conservation interest is maintained through hay meadow management without agricultural intensification. It isestimated that only 3.5 percent of such mesotrophic grassland in the Yorkshire Dales remains with moderately high botanical interest. In Richmondshire District outside the National Park the figure drops to less than 0.5 percent and Bellerby Fields are one of the richest examples in the area. The main grassland communities are of interest and comprise the 'crested dog's tail common knapweed' and 'sweet vernal grass wood crane's bill' Cynosurus cristatus Centaurea nigra and Anthoxanthum odoratum Geranium sylvaticum types. The site lies at an altitude of approximately 230 metres above sea level and occupies a south east facing slope above a small tributary of the River Swale. The intricate mosaic of grassland communities present is typical of the transition zone between upland and lowland hay meadow communities. The site retains a rich flora throughout with a diverse suite of hay meadow species. Sweet vernal grass, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris and red clover Trifolium pratense are all common, while pignut Conopodium majus, lady's mantle Alchemilla xanthochlora, selfheal Prunella vulgaris, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis and oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare also occur. Localised variations in soil moisture and acidity contribute to variety in the sward's species composition. In the slightly more acidic areas red fescue Festuca rubra, cat's ear Hypochaeris radicata and betony Betonica officinalis are typical. Whereas in the more neutral to basic areas meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulataa, which is locally abundant, hairy oat grass Avenula pubescens, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and early purple orchid Orchis mascula all occur. In the flatter parts of the site conditions become damper and characteristic species include meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis and bugle Ajuga reptans. Yarrow Achillea millefolium, crested dog's tail and perennial rye grass Lolium perenne are occasional in the sward.
Species mentioned
Show the 23 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusInsects 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Centaurea nigra |
| New forest Zygaena viciae |
Critically Endangered | Lathyrus pratensis |
| Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria |
Endangered | Achillea millefolium |
| Wood white Leptidea sinapis |
Endangered | Lathyrus pratensis |
| Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia |
Endangered | Achillea millefolium |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Filipendula ulmaria |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Poterium sanguisorba |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp., Filipendula ulmaria, Rhinanthus minor |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Trifolium spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca rubra |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Poterium sanguisorba |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Ranunculus spp., Trifolium spp. |
| Latticed heath Chiasmia clathrata |
Near Threatened | Lathyrus pratensis, Trifolium spp. |
| No common name Chrysolina marginata |
Near Threatened | Achillea millefolium |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca spp. |
| Tawny speckled Eupithecia icterata |
Near Threatened | Achillea millefolium |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Achillea millefolium, Betonica officinalis, Centaurea spp. |
| Bordered pug Eupithecia succenturiata |
Near Threatened | Achillea millefolium |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea nigra |
| Red carpet Xanthorhoe decoloraria |
Near Threatened | Alchemilla 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.
Plant communities
MG9 — Brownfield, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Mesotrophic grassland
Holcus lanatus-Deschampsia cespitosa grassland
Matches 13 species from the description above: Achillea millefolium, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Cardamine pratensis, Centaurea nigra, Conopodium majus, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca rubra, Filipendula ulmaria, Lathyrus pratensis, Leucanthemum vulgare, Lolium perenne, Ranunculus acris, Trifolium pratense
Show 79 indicator speciesCarex hirta, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Cirsium vulgare, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leucanthemum vulgare, Pulicaria dysenterica, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Hypericum perforatum, Mentha aquatica, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Plantago lanceolata, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex sanguineus, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Urtica dioica, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Glyceria fluitans, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Hordeum secalinum, Lolium perenne, Phalaris arundinacea, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens
MG7 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Mesotrophic grassland
Lolium perenne leys and related grasslands Lolium perenne-Alopecurus pratensis grassland
Matches 9 species from the description above: Achillea millefolium, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Cardamine pratensis, Festuca rubra, Hypochaeris radicata, Lathyrus pratensis, Lolium perenne, Ranunculus acris, Trifolium pratense
Show 47 indicator speciesJuncus inflexus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Cardamine pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Cerastium glomeratum, Stellaria media agg., Lathyrus pratensis, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sativa, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Bromus hordeaceous, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina
A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans
A18 — Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus fluitans community
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa