Dolyhir Meadows

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Powys County

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Description These two small herb-rich hay meadows are noted for the occurrence of a neutral grassland vegetation type which is not widely distributed and is more typical of central or eastern England. Additionally, they support a good population of meadow saffron Colchicum autumnale, a nationally uncommon plant which is on the western edge of its range in mid-Wales. The western meadow is moderately sloping with a north-easterly aspect, whilst the eastern meadow is on level ground. Both sites are well drained and prone to receiving limestone dust from the adjacent quarry. The dominant grasses of the sward are sheep’s-fescue Festuca ovina, red fescue F. rubra and crested dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus, with abundant sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum and a good representation of quaking-grass Briza media and yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens. Cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata occurs locally, apparently in association with areas of deeper soil. The eastern pasture is more grass-dominated, with a greater frequency of perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne. Species which are well represented in the herb-rich sward are rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus and common bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus (both locally dominant in the western meadow), and also cowslip Primula veris, which is particularly abundant in the western meadow. Other constant species include carnation sedge Carex flacca, yarrow Achillea ptarmica, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata and red clover Trifolium pratense. An indication of the relatively base-rich status of the soil is the significant occurrence of fairy flax Linum catharticum and lady’s bedstraw Galium verum. The inclusion of some woodland and some grassed-over disused railway track adds to the species diversity of the site which, despite its small size, contains at least 80 species of flowering plants. S

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.