Alex Farm Pastures
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TQ966368 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 4.54 | 2021-02-12 |
Habitats
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| cuckoo | Unknown |
Description
Description This site consists of two adjoining pastures separated by a small pond and shallow stream. The pastures represent one of the best surviving examples in Kent of unimproved neutral grassland, a nationally rare habitat. The grassland sward contains a range of plant species characteristic of slightly acidic Wealden clay and supports several scarce butterflies. Though grazed in the past by either cattle or sheep the pastures have not been grazed by stock for many years. Some of the grassland has been lost to encroachment by bramble Rubus fruticosus and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, although areas of high species diversity are maintained by rabbit grazing. The pastures are a type of unimproved herb rich neutral to slightly acidic grassland, characterised by heath grass Danthonia decumbens, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus and common knapweed Centaurea nigra. The grasses include a variety of species, such as common bent Agrostis capillaris, creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina and red fescue F. rubra. Features of the sward are the abundance of dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria and pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus and the presence of sneezewort Achillea ptarmica and spring sedge Carex caryophyllea. Other widespread and frequent species are devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, common knapweed, cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis, adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum and tormentil Potentilla erecta. There is a large population of common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. Glaucous sedge Carex flacca and hedge bedstraw Galium album occur where there is base enrichment. The pond adds to the diversity of the site, supporting species such as water violet Hottonia palustris and water dropwort Oenanthe aquatica. The pastures also support a number of declining butterfly species, including the nationally scarce, 1, pearl bordered fritillary Boloria euphrosyne and the only known colony in Kent of the small pearl bordered fritillary B. selene. Other species of interest are grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae and dingy skipper Erynnis tages. 1 Nationally scarce, recorded from between 16 and 100 10km x 10km squares in Britain.
Species mentioned
Show the 24 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 |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp. |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Crataegus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Least minor Photedes captiuncula |
Endangered | Carex flacca |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Succisa pratensis |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp., Galium spp. |
| White-line dart Euxoa tritici |
Vulnerable | Galium album |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca ovina |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Rubus fruticosus |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus |
| Lead belle Scotopteryx mucronata |
Vulnerable | Genista tinctoria |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Rubus fruticosus |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca spp. |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina, Galium spp. |
| Tawny speckled Eupithecia icterata |
Near Threatened | Achillea ptarmica |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Centaurea spp., Crataegus monogyna |
| Bordered pug Eupithecia succenturiata |
Near Threatened | Achillea ptarmica |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp. |
| Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea nigra |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp. |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Carex flacca, Festuca ovina |
| 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.
Plant communities
W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub
Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 2 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Potentilla erecta
Show 40 indicator speciesHedera helix, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Achillea millefolium, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Jasione montana, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Teucrium scorodonia, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Pteridium aquilinum
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Matches 1 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 1 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas
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