Kingswood Meadow

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.6172, -3.1217

Also within

Powys County

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
cuckoo Unknown

Description

Description This site comprises a single small hay field occupying a level site between the Severn and Camlad valleys near Forden. Although situated above the flood plain, the vegetation here shows strong affinities with that found in the flood meadows of central and southern England. This type of vegetation is not known anywhere else in Montgomeryshire. The sward is characterised by an abundance of great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, together with grasses such as meadow-foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum and smooth meadow-grass Poa pratensis. Soft-brome Bromus hordeaceus subs. hordeaceus, perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris, common sorrel Rumex acetosa and red clover Trifolium pratense are common throughout. Other characteristic associates include cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, common mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, common dandelion and yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
Phalacrocorax aristotelis Not listed in GB list bird phalacrocoracidae
meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis LC grass poaceae
sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum LC grass poaceae
soft brome Bromus hordeaceus LC grass poaceae
perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne LC grass poaceae
smooth meadow grass Poa pratensis LC grass poaceae
yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens LC grass poaceae
cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis LC herb brassicaceae
black knapweed Centaurea nigra LC herb asteraceae
common mouse ear Cerastium fontanum LC herb carophyllaceae
meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria LC herb rosaceae
meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis LC herb fabaceae
ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata LC herb plantaginaceae
meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris DD herb ranunculaceae
common sorrel Rumex acetosa LC herb polygonaceae
great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis LC herb rosaceae
red clover Trifolium pratense LC herb fabaceae

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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Black-veined moth
Siona lineata
Critically Endangered Centaurea nigra
New forest
Zygaena viciae
Critically Endangered Lathyrus pratensis
Marsh moth
Athetis pallustris
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Wood white
Leptidea sinapis
Endangered Lathyrus pratensis
Heath fritillary
Melitaea athalia
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Glanville fritillary
Melitaea cinxia
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Filipendula ulmaria, Rumex acetosa
Fiery clearwing
Pyropteron chrysidiformis
Endangered Rumex acetosa
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Rumex spp.
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Plantago spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Centaurea spp., Filipendula ulmaria
Garden dart
Euxoa nigricans
Vulnerable Plantago spp., Rumex spp., Trifolium spp.
White-line dart
Euxoa tritici
Vulnerable Cerastium spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Ranunculus spp., Rumex spp., Trifolium spp.
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Plantago lanceolata, Rumex spp.
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Plantago spp., Rumex spp.
Latticed heath
Chiasmia clathrata
Near Threatened Lathyrus pratensis, Trifolium spp.
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Rumex spp.
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Poa spp.
Silver barred
Deltote bankiana
Near Threatened Poa pratensis
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Plantago spp., Rumex spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Centaurea spp.
Scarce forester
Jordanita globulariae
Near Threatened Centaurea nigra
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Near Threatened Rumex 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.