Little Royal Farm Pastures
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO934743 | — | Favourable | 3.32 | 2011-07-21 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Triassic
Description
Description Little Royal Farm Pastures are situated in north Worcestershire about one kilometre east of the village of Bournheath and are managed as permanent horse pasture. The pastures lie on neutral soils derived from the underlying Mercia Mudstones of the Triassic Period. The special interest of the site lies in the diversity of the semi natural grassland sward. The vegetation conforms to the mesotrophic neutral grassland characterised by crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus and common knapweed Centaurea nigra, with a transition between the meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis and heath grass Danthonia decumbens subcommunities. The acidic nature of the pastures is indicated by lady’s mantle Alchemilla filicaulis spp. vestita, devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis, tormentil Potentilla erecta and red fescue Festuca rubra. Other characteristic neutral grassland species are autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, lesser hawkbit L. taraxacoides, field wood rush Luzula campestris, betony Betonica officinalis, agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria, saw wort Serratula tinctoria and pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus. Species characteristic of the damper areas are common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, red clover Trifolium pratense, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and common bent Agrostis capillaris. The pastures are bounded by hawthorn Crataegus monogyna dominated hedges, with ash Fraxinus excelsior, blackthorn Prunus spinosa and oak Quercus spp.
Species mentioned
Show the 22 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Reddish buff Acosmetia caliginosa |
Critically Endangered | Serratula tinctoria |
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Centaurea nigra, Lotus corniculatus |
| New forest Zygaena viciae |
Critically Endangered | Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus |
| Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Wood white Leptidea sinapis |
Endangered | Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Crataegus spp., Filipendula ulmaria, Prunus spinosa |
| Black hairstreak Satyrium pruni |
Endangered | Prunus spinosa |
| Slender scotch Zygaena loti |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp., Lotus corniculatus, Serratula tinctoria |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa |
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Succisa pratensis |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp., Filipendula ulmaria |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Trifolium spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca rubra |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Agrimonia eupatoria, Potentilla erecta |
| Brown hairstreak Thecla betulae |
Vulnerable | Prunus spinosa |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Trifolium spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Prunus spinosa |
| Latticed heath Chiasmia clathrata |
Near Threatened | Lathyrus pratensis, Trifolium spp. |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca spp. |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Betonica officinalis, Centaurea spp., Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea nigra |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp. |
| 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.