Plaster's Green Meadows
Plaster's Green Meadows is a 4.3 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the village of Nempnett Thrubwell, Bath and North East Somerset, notified in 1989.
This is an area of unimproved and traditionally managed species-rich meadows which support a neutral grassland community of a
type which is now rare throughout Britain. The site is situated on the slopes fringing the Lias Tablelands and is underlain by Rhaetic clays and, lower down the slope Keuper Red Marl. The slowly permeable clay soils are slightly calcareous in nature and this is reflected in elements of the flora.
The site is characterised by the nationally rare Common Knapweed and Crested Dog’s-tail and dominant grasses include Sweet Vernal-grass, Crested Dog’s-tail and Yorkshire Fog, while Quaking Grass and Yellow Oat-grass are also frequent.
There is a high component of herb species throughout the meadows including Saw-wort, Dyer’s Greenweed, Common Knapweed, Pepper-saxifrage, Devil’s-bit Scabious, Betony and Spiny Restharrow. The calcareous nature of the soil is reflected by the presence of Cowslip, Fairy Flax, Glaucous Sedge, Lady’s Bedstraw and occasional Salad Burnet.
The meadows are bounded by hedges supporting numerous species including Hawthorn, Wych Elm, English Elm, Hazel and Field Maple. Hedgerow trees include Ash, Sweet Chestnut, Holly and Oak.
