Plant Species and Wildflowers

Our Holiday Cottages, self catering or bed and breakfast, here in Monmouthshire are situated in 15.5 acres with ca 5 acres of woodland and 10 acres of grassland. The area is divided into six fields with old mixed hedges (Hazel dominant) and many old hedgerow trees; some have old walls beneath the hedges.

Since and prior to taking over the holiday business in 2009 there has been no stock grazing nor any hay cutting. The fields have been topped several times and the cut material allowed to 'mulch' the fields. This has resulted in some coarse grass growth although all fields are still species-rich.

It is our intention with the support of Monmouthshire meadows to nurture and protect our wild flower meadows by taking away the grass cuttings in the first instance and grazing the land in the medium to long term.

Steph Tyler of Monmouthshire Meadows visited us in June 2010, here is part of her report and a list of the Plant Species she identified :-

The field immediately below the house and that below the Oak Barn function room is the least floristically rich and is dominated by coarse grasses, notably False Oat Grass with Cocksfoot and Yorkshire Fog. However, near the lake at the bottom of the field there is a more species-rich area with knapweed and other meadow species including a small patch of Ladies Mantle.

Common Spotted Orchids are scattered throughout with a large concentration at the bottom edge of Fields 3 and 4. Woodland species such as Wood Anemone and Bluebell occurred commonly at the field edges.  Creeping Jenny was frequent along the SE edge of Field 1 by woodland. Ox-eye Daisies occurred in several fields but were particularly common in the top field (6) on the eastern boundary. Cowslips were scattered throughout.

The list below excludes most hedgerow and woodland species and species along the Castrogi Brook on the western boundary but the hedges, tree lines, streamside and areas of woodland have many features of interest and probably the whole land holding meets the criteria for a Local Wildlife Site.

In addition to a range of widespread indicator species, the fields were alive with Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Marbled Whites, Six spot Burnets and skippers. The Gooches reported seeing Adders, Slow Worms, Common Lizards, Frogs and newts. Green Woodpecker, Little Owl and Grey Wagtail are among the birds of interest

Plant Species

  • Wood Anemone - Anemone nemorosa
  • Meadow Buttercup - Ranunculus acris
  • Creeping Buttercup - Ranunculus repens
  • Common Nettle - Urtica dioica
  • Lesser Stitchwort - S. graminea
  • Common Mouse-ear - Cerastium fontanum
  • Broad-leaved Dock Rumex - obtusifolius
  • Curled Dock - Rumex crispus
  • Common Sorrel - Rumex acetosa
  • Cowslip - Primula veris
  • Primrose - Primula vulgaris
  • Creeping Jenny - Lysimachia nummularia
  • Cuckooflower - Cardamine pratensis
  • Meadowsweet - Filipendula ulmaria
  • Hairy Ladies Mantle - Alchemilla filicaulis ssp. vestita
  • Tormentil - Potentilla erecta
  • Trailing Tormentil or a hybrid - Potentilla anglica
  • Barren Strawberry - Potentilla sterilis
  • Common Vetch - Vicia sativa
  • Bird's-foot Trefoil - Lotus corniculatus
  • Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil - Lotus pedunculatus
  • Meadow Vetchling - Lathyrus pratensis
  • Red Clover - T. pratense
  • Zigzag Clover - T. medium
  • White Clover - T. repens
  • Cut-leaved Cranesbill - Geranium dissectum
  • Rosebay Willowherb - Chamerion angustifolium
  • Yarrow - Achillaea millefolium
  • Pignut - Conopodium majus

Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures

Plant Species continued

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