Whitevine Meadows

Infobox SSSI


name=Whitevine Meadows
aos=Somerset
interest=Biological
gridref=gbmappingsmall|ST505085
area=13.0 hectare (32.0 acre)
notifydate=1979

http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?
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Whitevine Meadows (gbmapping|ST505085) is a 13.0 hectare (32.0 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset, notified in 1979.This site consists of a nationally rare type of neutral grassland together with adjoining areas of scrub and ancient woodland. The Whitevine meadow is unusual in being one of only three British localities where the grass "Gaudinia fragilis" is a prominent and established component of the sward. The scrub provides nest sites for several species of bird, including Nightingale ("Luscinia megarhynchos"). Clearings within the scrub support a mixed Flora with Saw-wort ("Serratula tinctoria"), Yellow-wort ("Blackstonia perfoliata") and Autumn Gentian ("Gentianella amarella"). These sheltered glades provide favourable climatic conditions for butterflies including Marbled White ("Melanargia galathea") and Silver-washed Fritillary ("Argynnis paphia"). [cite web | title=Whitevine Meadows | work=English Nature | url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1001203.pdf | accessdate=2006-09-09]

References