Old Pulford Brook Meadows
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Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Alluvium, Sandstone
Landscape processes: Fluvial
Description
Description This site is of special interest for its unimproved lowland grassland vegetation. The site is located close to the boundary with England, in the flood plain of the River Dee, approximately 3 km east of Pulford village. It comprises two enclosures on flat ground each bounded by ditches, at an altitude of about 5 m. The soils are clay river alluvium overlying Lower Mottled Sandstone. The site is notable for its unimproved flood-meadow vegetation. Over a long period of time, agricultural management has consisted of a mid-summer hay crop followed by cattle grazing in the autumn. This, coupled with winter flooding has resulted in a rich, alluvial flora. The semi-natural vegetation communities found are nationally uncommon and are particularly rare in Wales. The most prominent grass species are Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus, sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, crested dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus and meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis with a range of associated forbs including yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis, great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and pepper-saxifrage Silaum silaus. Several uncommon species have been found including common meadow-rue Thalictrum flavum, slender spike-rush Eleocharis uniglumis, smooth brome Bromus racemosus and mousetail Myosurus minimus.
Species mentioned
Show the 13 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| meadow foxtail | Alopecurus pratensis | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| smooth brome | Bromus racemosus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| crested dog's tail | Cynosurus cristatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| Yorkshire fog | Holcus lanatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| meadow sweet | Filipendula ulmaria | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| mousetail | Myosurus minimus | VU | herb | ranunculaceae |
| yellow-rattle | Rhinanthus minor | DD | herb | orobanchaceae |
| great burnet | Sanguisorba officinalis | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| greater hawkbit | Scorzoneroides autumnalis | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| pepper saxifrage | Silaum silaus | EN | herb | saxifragaceae |
| common meadow rue | Thalictrum flavum | LC | herb | ranunculaceae |
| slender spike rush | Eleocharis uniglumis | LC | rush | juncaceae |
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.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Filipendula ulmaria |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Filipendula ulmaria, Rhinanthus minor |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Cynosurus cristatus |
| Marsh carpet Gagitodes sagittata |
Near Threatened | Thalictrum flavum |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Holcus lanatus |
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
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina
A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans
A18 — Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus fluitans community
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa