Saltersford Lane Meadows

Also within

Staffordshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Triassic

Description

Description Saltersford Lane Meadows is situated to the east of the village of Alton in north Staffordshire. The site encompasses two species rich meadows, both examples of a traditionally managed hay meadow. Such hay meadows are now uncommon in Staffordshire, having declined due to changes in agricultural practice. Both fields are undulating, but generally slope to the south. The soils are of variable drainage and nutrient status. They have been formed over Mercia Mudstones of the Triassic age. The grass dominated field to the west contains soils of varying drainage. This is reflected by the transitional nature of the plant communities, which exhibit similarities with both the traditionally managed, drier hay meadows and the hay meadows of seasonally flooded land. The major grasses of the drier areas are sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera and crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus. The smaller areas of lower lying ground are dominated by sharp-flowered rush Juncus acutiflorus. Herbs present include yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, common bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, greater bird's foot trefoil L. uliginosus, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and heath spotted orchid Dactylorhiza maculata. The drier sloping ground in the north east of this field supports a community in which pignut Conopodium majus, betony Betonica officinalis and devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensisare frequent. The vegetation of the eastern field is broadly similar to that of the western field. The sward is diverse in places and some areas are herb rather than grass dominated, with species such as common bird's foot trefoil and yellow rattle becoming abundant. The presence of downy oat grass Avenula pubescens, quaking grass Briza media and yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens suggests more base rich soil conditions. The sloping area at the east of this field contains frequent great burnet. Other species which occur in this field which are uncommon in Staffordshire are common twayblade Neottia ovata, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and adder's tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum.

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.