GRASSLAND

The area known as Barn Field adjacent to the thatched barn is 'ancient grassland' and is locally important. Grazed by rabbits through the 19th and 20th Centuries the short turf supports a range of interesting plants such as Sea Mouse-ear and Suffocated Clover and course Harebell. However the majority of the field is a grass sward which includes the sweet tasting Sweet Vernal Grass.

Today the field is grazed by cattle and the lack of tall grasses and scrub has exposed the myriad of anthills created by the Yellow Meadow Ant. These mounds provide mini-habitats for many plants such as Heath Bedstraw, Mouse-ear Hawkweed and Heath Speedwell.Insects are plentiful including the Common Blue butterfly which lays its eggs on the Birdsfoot-trefoil. Skylark and Meadow Pipit nest very successfully here, away from the disturbance of people and dogs.