Lower Nex Meadows, Devauden
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Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Sandstone
Description
Description Lower Nex Meadows are situated to the south of the village of Devauden at an altitude of 210 metres. The underlying geology consists of Brownstones of the Old Red Sandstone and the soils are classified as brown earths of the Oglethorpe Association. The meadows slope gently to the south west and are freely drained. The site supports a traditionally managed unimproved neutral grassland community with a restricted distribution in Gwent. The vegetation is uniform and is best described as the Lathyrus pratensis sub-community of the Centaurea nigra – Cynosurus cristatus type of neutral grassland. This site supports the largest area known in Gwent of this vegetation type. The most frequent grasses are red fescue Festuca rubra, crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus, Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus, common bent Agrostis capillaris and sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum. Quaking-grass Briza media is less frequent. Spring-sedge Carex caryophyllea is the only sedge species present. A particularly noticeable feature of the meadows is the widespread abundance of oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, a reliable indicator of nutrient poor soils. Other herbs of interest include yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, cowslip Primula veris, eyebright Euphrasia sp. and betony Betonica officinalis. Orchids are well represented with heath spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza maculata, common twayblade Neottia ovata, early-purple orchid Orchis mascula and green-winged orchid Anacamptis morio. Remarks: Adjoins the boundary of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Species mentioned
Show the 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| common bent | Agrostis capillaris | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| crested dog's tail | Cynosurus cristatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| Yorkshire fog | Holcus lanatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| green-winged orchid | Anacamptis morio | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| betony | Betonica officinalis | VU | herb | lamiaceae |
| black knapweed | Centaurea nigra | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| heath spotted orchid | Dactylorhiza maculata | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| meadow vetchling | Lathyrus pratensis | LC | herb | fabaceae |
| oxeye daisy | Leucanthemum vulgare | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| common twayblade | Neottia ovata | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| early purple orchid | Orchis mascula | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| cowslip | Primula veris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| yellow-rattle | Rhinanthus minor | DD | herb | orobanchaceae |
| spring-sedge | Carex caryophyllea | NT | sedge | cyperaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Centaurea nigra |
| New forest Zygaena viciae |
Critically Endangered | Lathyrus pratensis |
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula veris |
| Wood white Leptidea sinapis |
Endangered | Lathyrus pratensis |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp., Rhinanthus minor |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca rubra |
| Latticed heath Chiasmia clathrata |
Near Threatened | Lathyrus pratensis |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Betonica officinalis, Centaurea spp. |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea nigra |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., 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.