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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
24 Plantlife
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