Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Location | Northumberland |
---|---|
Grid reference | NT867110 |
Coordinates | 55°23′32″N 2°12′43″W / 55.39229°N 2.21182°W |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 5.4 hectares (13 acres) |
Notification | 1988 |
Location map | DEFRA MAGIC map |
Natural England website |
Barrow Burn Meadows is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in north Northumberland, England. The site is a species-rich hay meadow of a sort now rare in Northumberland. [1] [2]
Barrow Burn Meadows are two fields 5.4 hectares (13 acres) in area in the north-east of England in the county of Northumberland, some 2.7 miles (4.3 km) south of the Anglo-Scottish border and 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north-west of the village of Alwinton. The meadows are on the south-west facing slope of a hill on the north bank of the upper River Coquet, rising from 250 metres (820 ft) to 280 metres (920 ft) above sea level. The surrounding terrain is hilly moorland. [1] [2]
The meadows are judged to be species-rich in comparison with fields managed using contemporary farming methods involving the use of artificial fertilisers and reseeding. [2] Aules Hill Meadows in the south-west and Barrow Meadow in the north of the county are similarly protected hay meadows. [3] [4]
Barrow Burn Meadows is a northern hay meadow characterised by the presence of a rich diversity of grasses, and an abundance of herbs. Species found at the site include sweet vernal-grass ( Anthoxanthum odoratum), crested dog's-tail ( Cynosurus cristatus), red fescue ( Festuca rubra) with tufted hair-grass ( Deschampsia cespitosa), creeping bent ( Agrostis stolonifera), Yorkshire fog ( Holcus lanatus), yellow oat-grass ( Trisetum flavescens) and wood crane's-bill ( Geranium sylvaticum). Herb species include pignut ( Conopodium majus), bitter vetch ( Lathyrus montanus), meadow vetchling ( L. pratensis), rough and autumn hawkbit ( Leontodon hispidus) and ( L. autumnalis), cat's-ear ( Hypochoeris radicata), selfheal ( Prunella vulgaris), common bird's-foot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus), yellow rattle ( Rhinanthus minor), changing forget-me-not ( Myosotis discolor), common knapweed ( Centaurea nigra) and oxeye daisy ( Leucanthemum vulgare). [2]
The southern of the two fields provides a habitat for smooth, hairy and intermediate lady's mantle ( Alchemilla glabra, A. filicaulis and A. xanthochlora), whilst the northern field supports eyebright ( Euphrasia agg.), quaking grass ( Briza media) and melancholy thistle ( Cirsium helenioides). [2]
A poorly drained section of the northern field supports compact rush ( Juncus conglomeratus) and several sedges including glaucous sedge ( Carex flacca), common sedge ( C. nigra), oval sedge ( C. leporina [a]) and pale sedge ( C. pallescens), with marsh marigold ( Caltha palustris), ragged robin ( Lychnis flos-cuculi), meadowsweet, greater bird's-foot trefoil ( Lotus uliginosus) and common spotted-orchid ( Dactylorhiza fuchsii). [2]
The condition of one of the units of Barrow Burn Meadows was judged to be favourable in 2012; a second was judged in 2014 to be unfavourable-recovering, with concerns expressed about the observed herb to grass ratio. [6]
Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Location | Northumberland |
---|---|
Grid reference | NT867110 |
Coordinates | 55°23′32″N 2°12′43″W / 55.39229°N 2.21182°W |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 5.4 hectares (13 acres) |
Notification | 1988 |
Location map | DEFRA MAGIC map |
Natural England website |
Barrow Burn Meadows is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in north Northumberland, England. The site is a species-rich hay meadow of a sort now rare in Northumberland. [1] [2]
Barrow Burn Meadows are two fields 5.4 hectares (13 acres) in area in the north-east of England in the county of Northumberland, some 2.7 miles (4.3 km) south of the Anglo-Scottish border and 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north-west of the village of Alwinton. The meadows are on the south-west facing slope of a hill on the north bank of the upper River Coquet, rising from 250 metres (820 ft) to 280 metres (920 ft) above sea level. The surrounding terrain is hilly moorland. [1] [2]
The meadows are judged to be species-rich in comparison with fields managed using contemporary farming methods involving the use of artificial fertilisers and reseeding. [2] Aules Hill Meadows in the south-west and Barrow Meadow in the north of the county are similarly protected hay meadows. [3] [4]
Barrow Burn Meadows is a northern hay meadow characterised by the presence of a rich diversity of grasses, and an abundance of herbs. Species found at the site include sweet vernal-grass ( Anthoxanthum odoratum), crested dog's-tail ( Cynosurus cristatus), red fescue ( Festuca rubra) with tufted hair-grass ( Deschampsia cespitosa), creeping bent ( Agrostis stolonifera), Yorkshire fog ( Holcus lanatus), yellow oat-grass ( Trisetum flavescens) and wood crane's-bill ( Geranium sylvaticum). Herb species include pignut ( Conopodium majus), bitter vetch ( Lathyrus montanus), meadow vetchling ( L. pratensis), rough and autumn hawkbit ( Leontodon hispidus) and ( L. autumnalis), cat's-ear ( Hypochoeris radicata), selfheal ( Prunella vulgaris), common bird's-foot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus), yellow rattle ( Rhinanthus minor), changing forget-me-not ( Myosotis discolor), common knapweed ( Centaurea nigra) and oxeye daisy ( Leucanthemum vulgare). [2]
The southern of the two fields provides a habitat for smooth, hairy and intermediate lady's mantle ( Alchemilla glabra, A. filicaulis and A. xanthochlora), whilst the northern field supports eyebright ( Euphrasia agg.), quaking grass ( Briza media) and melancholy thistle ( Cirsium helenioides). [2]
A poorly drained section of the northern field supports compact rush ( Juncus conglomeratus) and several sedges including glaucous sedge ( Carex flacca), common sedge ( C. nigra), oval sedge ( C. leporina [a]) and pale sedge ( C. pallescens), with marsh marigold ( Caltha palustris), ragged robin ( Lychnis flos-cuculi), meadowsweet, greater bird's-foot trefoil ( Lotus uliginosus) and common spotted-orchid ( Dactylorhiza fuchsii). [2]
The condition of one of the units of Barrow Burn Meadows was judged to be favourable in 2012; a second was judged in 2014 to be unfavourable-recovering, with concerns expressed about the observed herb to grass ratio. [6]