|
New Grove Meadows Reserve
This reserve is made up of four adjacent meadows.
The northern two fields are amongst the very best wildflower meadows in
Britain - their grassland flora is indicative of an unbroken history of
traditional management. In contrast, the southern two fields have been
reseeded and fertilised in the past but the Trust is now working to restore
their past glory.
Species Found on the Reserve
In April the lemon yellow flowers of cowslip and the subtle pale brown
spikes of the spring sedge are found in numbers. In May, early purple
orchids appear and by the end of the month the fields are dominated by large
numbers of green-winged orchids. Late June sees the whole field turned
pink by an amazing profusion of common spotted orchids. Another orchid
that occurs is the twayblade, which has intricately shaped green flowers.
Adder's-tongue fern and moonwort have also been recorded here. Meadow
vetchling, rough hawkbit, milkwort and knapweed are abundant.
In autumn the northern fields show grassland fungi. Two UK Red Data
Book species have been recorded, the imposing pearly-grey, capped and
pink-gilled Entoloma bloxamii and the bright pink parasols of the
waxcap Hygrocybe calyptiformis. More obvious though are the
swarms of yellow, red and green waxcaps.
There is a rich insect fauna. Unusual butterflies recorded include
the dark green fritillary which is scarce in Monmouthshire.
Dormouse and harvest mouse, two particularly threatened mammal species,
have been identified in the mature hedgerows. Scrub has been planted
up at the edge of two of the hedges to increase the amount of dormouse
habitat that is offered.
Access
The reserve consists of four slightly sloping grassy
fields, making walking easy. The most species-rich fields lie at the
northern end of the reserve and can only be reached by walking across the
first two fields. Full mobility kissing gates have been installed at
the entrance and between fields.
|
