Field Head Meadow

Also within

Lancashire County Forest Of Bowland Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Northern hay meadow

Description

Description Field Head Meadow lies at an altitude of 210 metres OD, approximately 1.3 kilometres east of the village of Slaidburn. The site consists of a single field of enclosed, moderately herb rich hay meadow, typical of its type in northern England. Field Head Meadow is one of the few remaining herb rich grasslands present in this part of Lancashire. This vulnerable habitat has become increasingly scarce nationally and has been largely destroyed in Lancashire dueto agricultural intensification. The meadow is a variant of the 'northern hay meadow' type. It is characterised by sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, red fescue Festuca rubra, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus, rough meadow grass Poa trivialis and field wood rush Luzula campestris with greater burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, yellow raffle Rhinanthus minor, lady’s mantle Alchemilla glabra, eyebright Euphrasia agg. and pignut Conopodium majus. Other species present also include abundant ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, red clover Trifolium pratense, meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris, daisy Bellis perennis and common sorrel Rumex acetosa. Yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis, common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, smooth hawk’s beard Crepis capillaris and meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis are also occasionally present in the sward.

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.

Plant communities