Come and be part of a global voice for wild plants and fungi
Help wildlife, connect with nature and take part in No Mow May – straight from your garden by letting the wildflowers grow (in May and beyond!)
There are many different ways you can go the extra mile for Plantlife – from organising a bake sale, running the London Marathon or planning your own plant-themed event.
Our corporate partners benefit from 35 years of experience in nature restoration so they can achieve real impact.
Become a Plantlife member today and together we will rebuild a world rich in plants and fungi
Location: Near Chatham, KentOS: TQ 830 630
Habitat: Woodland, Meadow
The name says a lot about this North Downs reserve. It was once owned by Queen Eleanor of Provence (1223-1291), wife of King Henry III of England, and in medieval times it was a rabbit farm before the animals escaped and went wild. In 1536, the land was leased to a local family, who bought the freehold in 1876; 700 years of history only add to this site’s importance.
Now Queendown Warren is one of several remnant areas of plant-rich chalk grassland in Kent. This habitat forms on thin soils overlying chalk or limestone and is restricted in Kent to the steeper slopes of the North Downs, which are difficult to cultivate.
The downland turf has a mixture of plants, which are adapted to the dry, nutrient-poor conditions and frequent grazing by rabbits, sheep, and cattle. Since the last war as much as 80% of this habitat has been lost, mainly to agricultural “improvement”.
Queendown Warren is renowned throughout Kent for its orchids. Ten species are regularly recorded, including the Fly Orchid Ophrys insectifera, Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera, Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis and the Man Orchid Orchis anthropophora, which is a rare species found in the south east of the UK, mainly in the North Downs of Kent. The star of the orchid show however, is the Early Spider-orchid Ophrys sphegodes, which is a very local, short-lived plant, it is declining, legally-protected and found only in species-rich chalk grassland in southern England.
Other special chalk down species include Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa, Chalk Milkwort Polygala calcarea and Squinancywort Asperula cynanchica – a bedstraw named after its former use as a remedy for quinsy or squinancy.
More typical downland species include Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus, Yellow-wort Blackstonia perfoliata, Sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia, Cowslip Primula Veris, Bird’s-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus and Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium.
Potters Wood has a mixture of tree and shrub species – Oak, Ash, Wild Cherry, Hornbeam, Beech and Sweet Chestnut. Bluebells and Wood Anemones are often abundant in spring.
The insect and animal life is also rich, with characteristic species including the Adonis blue butterfly and Rufous grasshopper. The caterpillar of the chalkhill blue butterfly feeds on Horseshoe Vetch and the common blue caterpillar feeds on other members of the pea family. Brown argus caterpillars eat the Rock-rose, and the marbled white feeds on various grasses. Among the many birds, the green woodpecker can be found in the big trees and in the open areas feeding on ants and other invertebrates.
From Junction 4 of the M2 take the A278 towards Gillingham. Turn right at the first roundabout towards Wigmore. Follow the road back towards the M2 and turn right to Bredhurst. The road passes under a bridge, then over the M2. Take the next left and follow this road for approximately 1 1/4 miles. Turn right towards Hartlip and travel for approximately one mile. The small parking area is indicated at the first junction.
The nearest train station is Rainham, which is three miles from the reserve.
Cattle, provided by a local farmer, graze the three grassland areas during the autumn and early winter, and also in spring and early summer every third year. Grazing and occasional cutting of encroaching scrub keep the Warren open and prevent coarse grasses becoming dominant.
Potters Wood is regularly coppiced for fencing materials and wood pulp. Increased light prompts a flush of woodland flowers and insects, until the new shoots from the stumps grow tall again.
Queendown Warren is managed on our behald by the Kent Wildlife Trust. Swale Borough Council looks after the adjacent Potters Wood and has helped with the maintenance of the reserve. The purchase of this nature reserve was made possible by Timotei and supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Memorial Fund.
A butterfly at Queendown Warren
Some of the famous orchids at Queendown Warren Nature Reserve
24 Plantlife
Location: Metfield, SuffolkOS: TM 303 799
Habitat: Meadow
Winks Meadow is a tiny remnant of what was once an extensive area of unimproved grassland at the beginning of the last century. The meadow is now an oasis for wildlife surrounded by arable land and an old American airbase from the Second World War.
Protection of the meadow from modern agriculture and other developments is largely due to the care of its former owner, Mrs Godbold. It was her wish that the meadow should continue to be managed for the benefit of its wildlife. Following her death in 1988, Plantlife teamed up with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust to purchase the meadow and ensure its secure future.
It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Winks Meadow once formed part of a large expanse of herb-rich meadows. The small area which survived supports an exceptional wealth of wild flowers including a number of orchids such as, Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Green- winged Orchid Orchis morio, Frog Orchid Dactylorhiza viridis, Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera and Pyramidal Orchids Anacamptis pyramidalis.
You can also find Cowslip Primula Veris, Adder’s-tongue Fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, Pepper-saxifrage Silaum silaus, Sulphur Clover Trifolium ochroleucon and Quaking-grass Briza media.
The meadow is surrounded by hedges, mostly relatively young, but the northern section is species-rich including Dogwood, Field Maple and Spindle and may be of great age.
Goldfinches are often seen at the site and it is also home to several notable invertebrates including yellow meadow-ants.
From the village of Harleston take the B1123 through Mendham Marshes and Witherdale Street to Metfield. Leave the B1123 by heading straight up the little road then turn right after half a mile, at a crossroad. Take the first left and Winks Meadow is on your right. Park beyond the meadow but please do not block the concrete roads which are private.
The meadow is a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its exceptional botanical richness. It is cut for hay in midsummer after the plants have flowered and set seed and is then grazed by sheep or cattle from July to October.
The hedge is coppiced every 15 years and its suckers are pulled up to prevent it spreading into the meadow. The meadow is kept free from fertilisers and pesticides.
Please do not take your dogs into Winks Meadow.
Winks Meadow is managed by Suffolk Wildlife Trust. The purchase of this nature reserve was made possible by Timotei.
Beautiful purple and yellow wildflowers at Winks Meadow
The meadow in summer
Winks Meadow in full bloom
Location: Upton-upon-Severn, WorcestershireOS: SO 860 400
Habitat: Unimproved grassland, Lammas meadow
Upton Meadow is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The citation document describes it as “southern alluvial meadow…selected as the largest example of this nationally scarce habitat in Worcestershire”. The River Severn floods regularly and Upton Ham is one of the places where it bursts its banks, depositing silt over the land and producing a fertile soil in which many species flourish.
The flooding means the meadow remains largely unimproved in an agricultural sense. Like most of our meadow reserves, it continues to be managed traditionally, with a late hay cut and aftermath grazing. Its cultural importance is reflected in its long history as a Lammas meadow, like our Lugg Meadow Reserve. That means that ownership of the meadow lies with several local families, but their land is unenclosed. The owners are entitled to take a crop of hay from their land in July, but from 1 August (Lammas Day) the whole site reverts to common grazing until February.
The base-rich alluvial soils at Upton Ham together with regular flooding and a long history of traditional management, have encouraged a diverse flora.
Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, Red Fescue Festuca rubra, Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis and Pepper-saxifrage Silaum silaus are the more common plants. Great Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, a characteristic plant of this type of meadow, is also common and produces dark purple cigar shaped flower-heads which protrude above the grass in summer.
Rarer plants include Meadow Saffron Colchicum autumnale, Common Meadow-rue Thalictrum flavum, Common Bistort Persicaria bistorta and Meadow Crane’s-bill Geranium pratense.
Unusually Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa, which is normally associated with woodlands in Worcestershire, grows on Upton Ham although it is not found on any other local flood meadow. The unusual small-flowered winter-cress can be found growing on exposed ground along the banks of the River Severn.
The meadow is not only good for plants, but also supports breeding waders including redshank and curlew, and ground-nesting birds such as skylark and corn bunting, while adjacent ditches provide nesting cover for sedge warblers and occasionally grasshopper warblers.
The meadow flowers also attract butterflies such as the common blue, gatekeeper and meadow brown.
From the bridge in Upton-upon-Severn, follow the A4104 towards Little Malvern. On leaving the town, turn left, just past the church, into Minge Lane.
The best place to park is in the vicinity of Minge Lane. Walk down Minge Lane untill you reach a right-hand turning, into Laburnam Walk, with a dirt track ahead. Access to the reserve is via this track.
The nearset train station is Great Malvern which is 6 miles from the reserve.
Visitors should keep to the footpaths and access track. Other areas of the reserve are only accessible on special Open Days.
Traditional management is the main tool for preserving the rich diversity of Upton Ham. It must be cut for hay in summer and then grazed to encourage the plants to flourish. The meadow is divided into many strips, which belong to a variety of owners.
More than one third of the meadow in the centre and south of Upton Ham is leased by Plantlife. The reserve is managed by Plantlife.
Great Burnet pictured at Upton Ham
Lesser Celandine at Upton Ham
Location: Near Inkberrow, Redditch, WorcestershireOS: SO 998 586
Habitat: Unimproved grassland, stream, marsh grassland, ponds
This attractive reserve consists of two small meadows within the former ancient Forest of Feckenham, and is managed by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust on our behalf.
To access the site, you must arrange a guided walk or visit with the Trust.
Hidden away down narrow lanes, the meadows contain a wealth of wildflowers and other plant and animal wildlife, making them well worth the effort of arranging a visit.
While much of the area surrounding Stockwood Meadows has been intensively farmed, these old fields have survived. Worcestershire contains around a quarter of all the surviving meadows in England, but even here, destruction is continuing at an alarming rate. It has been estimated that well over half of all species-rich grassland in Worcestershire, present in 1978, had been damaged or destroyed by 1995.
Stockwood Meadows are a mosaic of neutral grassland types including both dry areas and damp hollows. The area also includes mature hedgerows, a small pond and a stream running through the length of one field.
The meadows are important for their plant communities which include Cowslip Primula Veris, Pepper-saxifrage Silaum silaus, Adder’s-tongue Fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, Saw-wort Serratula tinctoria, Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor, Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor and a number of grasses typical of neutral meadows.
Spring and summer blooms in the smaller field include Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Green-winged Orchid Orchis morio, and Early Purple Orchids Orchis Mascula. Where the ground remains wet, Cuckooflower Cardamine Pratensis, Ragged-Robin Silene flos-cuculi and Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria flourish. Along the marshy stream edges, Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus, Amphibious Bistort Persicaria amphibia and a number of sedges can be seen.
The hedges which mark the north-west and south-east boundaries may be ancient, as they are rich in woody species including Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus and trees such as Dogwood and Spindle.
Stockwood Meadows lie north-west of Inkberrow in Worcestershire. From Inkberrow take the A422, signposted to Stock Wood. At the T-junction turn left, the meadows are on the right.
The nearest train station is Pershore which is 6 miles from the reserve.
This reserve will only be accessible on by prior arrangement with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, or on special open days, details of which will be notified by Plantlife and the Trust.
The meadows are cut for hay in late July after the plants have flowered and set seed.
The aftermath is grazed by cattle from September to late October. This course of management prevents the meadows being taken over by coarser grasses and scrub.
The meadows are managed by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, and the purchase of this nature reserve was made possible by Timotei.
Looking up at a tall ancient pear tree in the meadows
A closer look at the branches of the ancient pear
A group of people gathered in a meadow during an open day at Stockwood Meadows
Ladies Bedstraw
Location: Cooil Bane, Sulby, Isle of ManOS: SC 375 957
Habitat: Traditional hay meadows
Moaney and Crawyn’s Meadows are fine examples of traditional hay meadows rich in wild flowers. They lie to the northeast of the Ballaugh Curragh (curragh means willow marsh in Manx Gaelic), the largest and most important wetland on the Isle of Man.
The fields are one of only five sites on the Isle of Man known for Pale Sedge Carex pallescens. Traditional Manx sod hedges form the boundaries to the meadows and are lined with Rusty Sallow Salix cinerea and an attractive Silver Birch tree.
The Meadows support a diverse range of plants characteristic of traditional hay meadows and wetland habitats. Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor, Yellow Bartsia Parentucellia viscosa, Purple-loosestrife Lythrum salicaria, Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra and Heath Spotted-orchids Dactylorhiza maculata, are all found here.
The large and spectacular Royal Fern Osmunda regalis thrives on the hedges and a patch of Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus is also present in one corner of the field. Greater Butterfly-orchids Platanthera chlorantha have been recorded in the past.
The diversity of flowering plants attracts a range of insects, particularly butterflies, moths, bees and hoverflies. Birds such as moorhen, snipe, curlew and migrant warblers can also be seen here.
The adjacent curragh supports the largest winter roost of hen harriers in western Europe – you may be lucky enough to see these impressive birds of prey.
From Sulby or Ballaugh, leave the TT course at the Sulby Glen Hotel, heading north on the Clenagh road (A14). After one mile, turn left at the minor crossroads (signposted Ballaugh Curragh). Follow this road, passing through two sharp bends, after which there is a small layby on the right hand side sufficient for four or five cars. The meadows are situated just a few metres further on, to the left.
The meadows are under traditional management, which involves cutting the meadows for hay in late summer followed by light grazing. The Meadows have never been re-seeded or treated with pesticides and artificial fertilisers.
Moaney and Crawyn’s Meadows are managed for Plantlife by the Manx Wildlife Trust. The purchase of this nature reserve was made possible by Timotei.
Location: Marsh Gibbon, BuckinghamshireOS: SP 64682018
Habitat: Lowland wet meadows
Long Herdon and Grange Meadows are two adjacent hay meadows situated close to Marsh Gibbon in Buckinghamshire.
The two meadows form a flat expanse of grassland that lies alongside the River Ray and is seasonally flooded by River Ray.
Both have been traditionally managed through the centuries for hay and they are still cut for hay each summer, and are then grazed by cattle in the autumn. They are wonderfully rich in meadow flowers – including the occasional Green-winged Orchid Orchis morio.
Long Herdon is owned by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), and Grange Meadows are owned by Plantlife.
Due to the way they have been sympathetically farmed, Grange Meadows support a wealth of wildlife. There are 111 recorded flowering plant species present including Ragged Robin Silene flos-cuculi, Brown Sedge Carex disticha, Sharp Flowered Rush Juncus acutiflorus, Tubular Water Dropwort Oenanthe fistulosa, Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra, Greater Spearwort Ranunculus lingua, Pepper-saxifrage Silaum silaus and Great Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis.
Other wildlife supported by this habitat includes damselflies, brimstone and a number of butterflies including marbled white, meadow brown, small heath and small skipper.
Also notable are the numbers of wintering birds including curlew, redshank and lapwings.
From the M40, take the A41 to Aylesbury and approximately 6 miles beyond Bicester turn left at Piddington to Marsh Gibbon (at the second sign to Marsh Gibbon). Park on the verge beyond Grange Farm on the right, taking care not to obstruct gateways. Access to the meadows is then by foot, across the concrete yard and through the gate to the field.
The nearest train station is Bicester Town, which is 5 miles from the reserve.
The meadows are cut for hay each summer when the plants have flowered and set seed. Then cattle graze them until winter, when flooding will provide essential feeding grounds for wildfowl and wading birds. Traditional management practices will continue to be used on the meadows, which will remain free from fertilisers, and pesticides.
Grange Meadows are managed on behalf of Plantlife by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. The purchase of this nature reserve was made possible by Timotei.
Wildflowers blooming at Grange Meadows
Knapweed and Great Burnet at Grange Meadows
Close up of Ragged Robin flowers at Grange Meadows
Common Meadow-rue at Grange Meadows
Ragged Robin and Great Burnet wildflowers pictured at Grange Meadows
Location: Ebernoe Common, near Petworth, West SussexOS: SU 977 277
Habitat: Meadow, ponds, scrub, marsh grassland and ancient semi-natural woodland
Furnace Meadow lies in a small valley to the north of Ebernoe Common and gets it’s name from the nearby 17th century ironworks and furnace pond.
The 10 acre field had been neglected before we bought the land, but since grazing was restored in 1995 it has burst into life once more and contains a range of habitats, from meadow to marshy grassland, scrub and stream.
Brick Kiln Rough, adjacent to Furnace Meadow, is also owned by Plantlife and consists mostly of ancient semi-natural woodland on north- and east-facing slopes. This area is named after the brick kiln which was in use at the end of the eighteenth century, using local clay and wood for fuel. The remains of the brick kiln can still be seen today.
In total the Furnace Meadow and Brick Kiln Rough nature reserve covers 15.8 acres. With a variety of habitats from meadow to ancient woodlands at the site, a host of wild plants can be found.
Wild flowers found in the drier areas of Furnace Meadow include Pepper Saxifrage Silaum silaus, Musk Mallow Malva moschata and Betony Betonica officinalis. Wetter areas and the streamside support Sneezewort Achillea ptarmica and Marsh Foxtail Alopecurus geniculatus.
Much of the meadow is steeply sloping and the soil slippage there provides ideal conditions for a range of specialist plants. Early-purple Orchid Orchis Mascula begins to flower in May, and is followed by Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Broad-leaved Helleborine Epipactis helleborine and others.
The woodland of Brick Kiln Rough which is mostly Oak, with some Ash, Maple and Hazel, supports a rich and interesting ground flora including Daffodil (wild) Narcissus pseudonarcissus, Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa, Greater Butterfly-orchid Platanthera chlorantha and Early-purple Orchid Orchis Mascula
There is also a small clearing underneath pylon lines which is home to Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, Cowslip Primula Veris, Ragged-Robin Silene flos-cuculi and Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca.
From Petworth, take the A283 north for about 31/2 miles. On the brow of the hill take the minor road to the right, signposted to Ebernoe. There is a red telephone box on the left hand side just past the Ebernoe cricket pitch. A few metres further on, turn right into the track which leads to the reserve car park next to Holy Trinity church.
The nearest train station is Billingshurst which is 10 miles from the reserve.
Traditionally, the meadow was grazed by cattle and horses and sometimes with sheep in winter. Grazing is vital to prevent coarse, fast-growing plants from dominating the less vigorous flowers, but unfortunately grazing ceased at the end of the 1980s.
Livestock have been re-introduced in an attempt to restore the meadow to its former glory.
The meadow is managed by Sussex Wildlife Trust. The purchase of this nature reserve was made possible by Timotei.
Summer in the meadow
A range of habitats at Furnace Meadow and Brick Kiln Rough
Looking down towards the edge of the meadow and to the woodlands in the distance
Looking out from the tree line at Furnace Meadow
Looking out across Furnace Meadow
Wildflowers in the field at Furnace Meadow
Sussex Cattle grazing in the field
Pepper Saxifrage in the field at Furnace Meadow
Location: Calver Hill, Norton Canon, HerefordshireOS: SO 375 485
Habitat: Unimproved meadows, ponds, ancient orchard
When we bought the meadows back in 1993, they were something of a timewarp from the old farming ways. The site is cut for hay in the summer and grazed during the autumn, as would have been the traditional practice. We want to keep it that way as it’s the perfect way to encourage wild flowers.
Davies Meadows is a species rich site with sixteen species of grasses recorded. It is also a haven for wildflowers including Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris, Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus and Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens, Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra, Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis and Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor.
Davies Meadows is full of life, rich in plant species and insects, including rare varieties.
The diversity of plants is mirrored in the insects that flutter and buzz over the meadows, which include two nationally scarce moths: the chimney sweeper, whose caterpillars feed on Pignut, and the six-spot burnet, which lays its eggs on Bird’s-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus.
The mixed hedgerows, ponds and old meadows also provide excellent habitat for other wildlife. Frogs and toads are regularly seen and grass snakes have been recorded in the past.
The reserve is managed by Herefordshire Nature Trust. Its purchase was made possible by Unilever (Timotei).
By road, from Hereford, take the A438 signposted to Brecon then take the A480 signposted to Lyonshall. Continue along the A480, passing the road to Weobly on your right. Pass the Three Horseshoes public house and a petrol station, Davies Meadows are situated just after these landmarks on the left-hand side.
By rail, the nearest train station is Hereford which is 10 miles from the reserve.
A seasonal pond at Davies Meadows
One of the seasonal ponds at Davies Meadows
Wild flowers bloom on the hill in Bowers Field
Wildflowers at Bowers Field
Looking out over Green Field
The pond at Davies Meadows
Pathway through the wildflowers at Davies Meadow
The peat-rich Flow Country, which our Munsary Peatlands are part of, has been given the same standing as the Great Barrier Reef and the Grand Canyon.
This marks a special moment for Scottish wild plants, fungi and the wildlife that call it home.
With the same standing as the Pyramids and the Great Barrier Reef, The Flow Country has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status – marking a magnificent moment for Scottish wildlife.
Deep within this historic landscape is our own Munsary Peatlands, which is an incredibly special place for plant life. One of the most extensive peatlands left in Europe, our Munsary Nature Reserve is key for tackling the ongoing climate crisis.
Alistair Whyte, Head of Plantlife Scotland said: “The Flow Country may be less well-known than the Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon and the Pyramids but it is cause for great celebration that it today has achieved the same standing as those rightly revered places on Earth. Recognition of the special significance of this wet and wild habitat in northern Scotland, where ancient peat can be as deep as a double-decker bus, demonstrates a growing recognition of the importance of peatlands to plants, people and planet.”
This historical moment also means the Flow Country has become the world’s first peatland World Heritage Site.
After years of hard work, we are thrilled that The Flow Country, in northern Scotland, has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – a special moment for Scottish wild plants, fungi and the wealth of the wildlife they support.
UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of natural and cultural heritage around the globe considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. What makes the concept of World Heritage so special is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all people, irrespective of where they are located.
The list of World Heritage Sites is as varied as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to the Pyramids of Egypt – and now that list includes the Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland, located near Lybster in Scotland (among just over 30 sites currently in the UK).
Munsary, a vast and undulating plain of blanket bog, is home to a huge variety of wildlife including some rare and threatened species.
This historic landscape is the most intact and extensive blanket bog system in the world. As well as being very important for biodiversity, it is also classed as an Important Plant Area (IPA). IPAs are key sites for exceptional botanical richness and identified as the best places for wild plants and their habitats.
So far, 147 species of vascular plants have been recorded at Munsary including the nationally-scarce Small Cranberry and a patch of Marsh Saxifrage, discovered in 2002, which is one of the largest colonies in Britain. The reserve in Caithness is also home to a Bog Orchid, a tiny yellow-green orchid which is so slight as to be almost invisible in the few bogs where it grows.
But, healthy peatlands – like Munsary – are more than just wildlife havens; they also have a vitally important role as we tackle the climate emergency. In fact, the vast expanse of pristine peat formed over many millennia at Munsary locks up a staggering two million tonnes of carbon.
Some species to look out for inlcude:
A special feature at Munsary is an unusual-looking area of dark-watered pools, high on a dome of peat, called dubh lochans. This area is particularly diverse, with pools of different shapes, sizes and depths, vegetated pools, and open water, ridges, and hummocks.
Even a visitor who has never studied mosses can spot differences between those forming the peat. Some form neat, rounded mounds, others are brownish or reddish tufts, while others make a deceptive green lawn, floating over water of an uncertain depth.
The drier areas of bog moss are home to many characteristic bog plants: Bog Asphodel, with spikes of yellow flowers, Common Cottongrass, with many white cottony heads in summer, and hare’s-tail cottongrass with just a single, fluffier head. Three species of heather grow here and plenty of sedges too, including such hard-to-find species as few-flowered sedge, flea sedge and bog-sedge.
Insect-eating plants lurk beside streams and wet pools: butterwort, with a basal rosette of broad, yellow-green leaves on which small insects stick, and round leaved and great sundew, with long red hairs on their leaves curving over to entrap their prey.
Peatlands are home to some of the UK’s most distinctive plant communities – they have evolved in response to the low-nutrient conditions. This has led to some remarkable adaptations such as the insect-eating sundews and butterworts, and the spongy blankets of colourful spagnum mosses.
They are also one of our most important terrestrial carbon sinks. But when bogs are drained or the peat is exploited, the peat gets exposed to the air and begins to break down, releasing carbon dioxide. This turns a huge carbon store into a vast emitter, contributing to climate change. Read more here.
Munsary is a vast undulating plain of peatland which stores around 1.9 million tonnes of carbon. Learn more about our reserve and how to visit.
IPAs are identified as the best sites for wild plants and their habitats using three criteria – threatened species, botanical richness and threatened habitats. Read on to find out more.
Extraction of peat for gardening and horticulture continues to damage wildlife and our climate, despite government commitments to phase it out.
Location: North Stainmore, Brough, Cumbria
OS: NY 816 146
Habitat: Unimproved grassland and woodland
Augill Pasture is a small area of unimproved grassland and woodland, beside an old lead smelt mill that dates back to 1843.
The reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the documentation refers to the “very rich component” of flowering plants in the reserve, with Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra, Great Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, Autumn Hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis and three species of Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla all commonly spotted on the site.
There’s also a number of orchid varieties to be seen in the pasture including Greater Butterfly-orchid Platanthera chlorantha, Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and Twayblade Neottia. Broad-leaved Helleborine Epipactis helleborine grows here at its highest location in Cumbria, and 60 Frog Orchids Dactylorhiza viridis have previously been counted on the reserve. The small number of Adder’s-tongue Ferns Ophioglossum grow on a few grassy banks. The yellow balls of Globeflower Trollius appear in damper areas around the field edges.
The pasture sits beside an old lead smelt mill. When the mill was active, water was collected behind a bund on the site to supply the mill, and the area was grazed by pit ponies.
Since the mill closed towards the end of the 19th century, the land has reverted to nature. Woodland of Birch Betula, Ash Fraxinus and Willow Salix, with an under-storey of Hazel Corylus and Rowan Sorbus, has grown up around the mill, with Dog’s Mercury Mercurialis perennis and Bluebells Hyacinthoides.
The reserve is recognised as an mountain hay meadow, an extremely rare type of species rich grassland.
Owned by Plantlife, the site is managed by our team as well as the Cumbria Wildlife Trust (CWT), the prominent areas of rushes are mechanically cut most years, whilst the rest is left and cut less frequently. Sheep graze the land in autumn and winter. Even the rabbits probably help here, as their nibbling keeps scrub from spreading.
The trust has developed a circular path around the reserve. Although this is steep in places, with some steps, it gives a real impression of the interest of this impressive reserve, the purchase of which was made possible by Unilever (Timotei).
The nearest train station can be found at Kirkby Stephen. Buses run from Ravenstonedale and Kirkby Stephen to North Stainmore, more can be found here, or by calling Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.
From Brough take A66 east for approximately 1 mile. Take the first left and turn right almost immediately. Follow this road until it ends. Park in the car park. The reserve is reached by going through a gate in the wall leading to the old smelt mill.
This rare upland hay meadow site is species-rich and beautiful to visit at any time of year.
In the spring the wildflowers start to bloom with a display of Primroses Primula vulgaris, Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Wild Garlic Alium ursinum. In the summer you will come across orchids such as Fly Orchid Ophrys insectifera, Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, Heath Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza maculata and Common Spotted Orchid, Dactylorhiza fuchsii. If you look carefully you might also spot the unassuming Frog Orchid Dactylorhiza viridis. As autumn begins the meadow area takes on a wonderful purple hue when Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis is in flower.
Our Augill Pasture reserve is a shining example of mountain hay meadow habitat in Cumbria which needs careful year round management by the Plantlife and Cumbria Wildlife Trusts team.
Augill Pasture looking beautiful under blue skies
Wildflowers blooming in the grassland at Augill Pasture
Snow settles on the old smelt mill at Augill Pasture
We will keep you updated by email about our work, news, campaigning, appeals and ways to get involved. We will never share your details and you can opt out at any time. Read our Privacy Notice.
