Dinham Meadows

Also within

Gwent County

Habitats

Mesotrophic grassland

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone

Description

Description A series of five grassland areas which are part of the same management unit and have been traditionally managed as hay meadows and pasture since the 1930s. Together they constitute the largest area of unimproved grassland in the county. Four are managed for hay and the fifth, located in an area of very thin soils and rock exposures, supports only a sparse cover. Soil types range from deep coarse loams with slight seasonal waterlogging through fine loams of intermediate depths with a moderate calcareous influence to bare rock of Carboniferous Limestone. Whilst the main grassland community type can be referred to the Centaurea nigra – Cynosurus cristatus mesotrophic grassland type, the range of soils types is reflected in the presence of other communities. On the deeper loams there are examples of the Arrhenatherum elatius coarse grassland community, whilst the shallower base rich soils support a community with strong affinities to the Koeleria macrantha sub community of the Festuca ovina – Carlina vulgaris limestone grassland type. There is a diverse range of both grass and herb species. Notable species of the hay meadows include adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, cross wort Cruciata laevipes, grass vetchling Lathyrus nissolia, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa and rockrose Helianthemum nummularium, whilst the limestone grassland areas have abundant quaking grass Briza media, heath grass Danthonia decumbens, bee orchid Ophrys apifera and autumn lady’s tresses Spiranthes spiralis. These areas are also important for the diverse assemblage of invertebrates characteristic of grassland habitats. Species of Diptera and Lepidoptera are particularly well represented including the rare and notable dingy skipper Erynnis tages, grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae and forester moth Adscita statices.

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