About the reserve

The reserve consists of a single field with a westerly aspect.  Its exposed high position provides fine views over the surrounding hilly landscape.  Clay soils underlie the semi improved grassland.  Although the field has not been ploughed as far as is known, artificial fertiliser dressings have been applied in the past and have clearly had an impact on the flora of the field.  The remnants of the original flora can be seen on the eastern edge of the field along with a swath approximately 3 metres wide adjacent to the roadside boundary edge. 

Here the more diverse flora supports:

• common knapweed
• bird's foot trefoil
• meadow vetchling
• crosswort

Yellow oat grass has also been recorded here.  At present the remainder of the field comprises:

• Yorkshire fog
• common bent
• sweet vernal
• perennial rye grasses
• common sorrel
• white clover
• meadow buttercup.

The reserve boundaries are tightly trimmed hedgerows which hold at least 8 different tree species including :

• field maple
• blackthorn
• guelder rose
• holly

as well as climbing plants:

• ivy
• honeysuckle
• field rose

The hedges provide habitat for small mammals and nesting sites for the occasional pair of yellowhammers,

In mid summer look for typical meadow butterflies like meadow brown, ringlet and gatekeeper as well as the 6 spot burnet moths taking nectar from the common knapweed flowers.

In autumn, this site is fantastic for waxcap fungi.