Meadow -

National picture - why are meadows important?

Over 97% of meadows have been lost in Britain since the 1930s.

Over 700 species of wild plants grow in grassy meadows.

A typical meadow can have 570 flowers per square metre in early summer.

Flower-rich meadows can store 500% more carbon than fields with only grass.

Plants in a typical meadow can support 1,400 species of invertebrates (compared with 40 species in a typical annual pollinator mix of flowers).

What is special about Bolton Crofts?

Bolton Crofts is special because it is an ancient meadow. The site has been assessed by Martin Hammond, Principal Ecologist, North Yorkshire. His report (June 2024) states that the western field of Bolton Crofts is a Lowland Meadow Priority Habitat and merits consideration for designation as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) in North Yorkshire. (SINC sites are ‘second tier’ wildlife sites underpinning the network of nationally important Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).)

Over 72 plants have been recorded at Bolton Crofts (excluding grasses). 16 species qualify as ‘indicator species’ of species-rich grassland according to SINC Guidelines: lady’s mantle, salad burnet, common bird’s foot trefoil, meadow saxifrage, knapweed, sweet vernal grass, bulbous buttercup, lady’ smock, oxeye daisy, field scabious, meadow vetchling, lady’s bedstraw, great burnet, betony, wood crane’s bill, pignut.

Bolton Crofts is part of a local network of important, rare, species-rich grassland sites (others include Richmond Meadows and Gingerfields SSSIs, Theakston lane Verge (SINC), Hudswell Lane SINC, Riverside Walk and Sleegill Fields SINC and Temple grounds SINC). According to Martin Hammond, these sites on the outskirts of Richmond and lower Swaledale constitute a nationally-important stronghold for species-rich grassland which must be considered of strategic importance.

Additionally, …any example of species-rich grassland has added conservation significance because it provides supporting habitat, can serve as a ‘stepping-stone’ between designated sites and helps sustain populations of pollinating insects which are crucial to the ecological function of the planet.

18 species of butterflies and day-flying moths have been observed by local residents, along with 56 species of bird. Mammals present include: bats, mice, voles, shrews, hedgehogs, rabbits, badgers, roe deer.

Bolton Crofts is special because it is a green field site in a Conservation Area.

The Richmond Conservation Area Appraisal (draft) states: … most importantly, these fields ensure that green open space extends close to the centre of town. They have a function in longer distance views through the town of providing a ‘green field’ backdrop to urban views and features which link Ronaldshay Park, the Cricket Ground and The Friary to create a virtually continual sweep of open land right into the heart of the town… This land has overriding significance to the character of much of Richmond’s Conservation Area. The views from the fields to the north of the town are impressive.

Achillea millefolium - Common Yarrow	Ficaria verna - Lesser Celandine	Poa trivialis - Rough meadow-grass
Agrostis capillaris - common bent	Galium aparine - Cleavers	Potentilla reptans - Creeping Cinquefoil
Ajuga reptans - Blue Bugle	Geranium dissectum - Cut-Leaved Cranesbill	Poterium sanguisorba - Salad Burnet
Alchemilla filicaulis ssp vestita - Hairy lady's-mantle	Geranium molle - Dove's-Foot Cranesbill	Prunella vulgaris - Selfheal
Alliaria petiolata - Garlic Mustard	Geranium pratense - Meadow Cranesbill	Ranunculus acris - Meadow Buttercup
Alopecurus pratensis - Meadow foxtail	Geranium pyrenaicum - Hedgerow Crane's-bill	Ranunculus bulbosus -
Anthoxanthum odoratum - Sweet vernal-grass	Geranium robertianum - Herb-Robert	Ranunculus repens - Creeping Buttercup
Anthriscus sylvestris - Cow Parsley	Geranium sylvaticum - Wood crane’s-bill	Reseda luteola - Weld
Arctium minus - Lesser Burdock	Geum urbanum - Wood Avens	Rosa canina - Dog Rose
Arum maculatum - Lords-and-Ladies	Heracleum sphondylium - Hogweed	Rubus fruticosus - Common Bramble
Avenula pratensis - Meadow oat-grass	Hieracium vulgatum f. vulgatum - Common Hawkweed	Rumex acetosa - Common Sorrel
Bellis perennis -Daisy	Holcus lanatus - Yorkshire Fog Grass	Rumex obtusifolius - Broad-leaved Dock
Bromus hordeaceus - Soft brome	Hyacinthoides non-scripta - English Bluebell	Sambucus nigra - Elder
Calystegia silvatica - Large Bindweed	Hypericum perforatum - Perforate St John's-Wort	Sanguisorba officinalis - Great Burnet
Campanula rotundifolia - Harebell	Hypochaeris radicata - Cat's-ear	Saxifraga granulata - Meadow Saxifrage
Capsella bursa-pastoris - Shepherd's-purse	Jacobaea vulgaris - Common Ragwort	Senecio vulgaris - Common Groundsel
Cardamine hirsuta - Hairy Bittercress	Knautia arvensis - Field Scabious	Silene dioica - Red Campion
Cardamine pratensis - Lady's Smock	Lamium album - White Dead-Nettle	Sonchus asper - Prickly Sow Thistle
Centaurea nigra - Common Knapweed	Lamium purpureum - Red Dead-Nettle	Stellaria holostea - Greater Stitchwort
Centranthus ruber - Red Valerian	Lathyrus pratensis - Meadow Vetchling	Stellaria media - Common Chickweed
Cerastium fontanum - Mouse-Ear Chickweed	Leucanthemum vulgare - Oxeye Daisy	Taraxacum officinale agg. - Common Dandelion
Chamerion angustifolium - Rosebay Willowherb	Lolium perenne - Perennial rye-grass	Torilis japonica - Upright Hedge Parsley
Cirsium arvense - Creeping Thistle	Lotus corniculatus - Common bird's-Foot Trefoil	Trifolium dubium - lesser trefoil
Cirsium vulgare - Spear Thistle	Luzula campestris - Field woodrush	Trifolium pratense - Red Clover
Conopodium majus - Pignut	Malva sylvestris - Common Mallow	Trifolium repens - White Clover
Crataegus monogyna - Hawthorn	Matricaria discoidea - Pineappleweed	Trisetum flavescens - Yellow oat-grass
Crepis vesicaria - Beaked Hawksbeard	Medicago lupulina - Black Medick	Urtica dioica - Stinging Nettle
Cynosurus cristatus - Crested dog's-tail	Myosotis arvensis - Field Forget-me-not	Veronica arvensis - Wall Speedwell
Dactylis glomerata - Cocksfoot	Pilosella aurantiaca - Fox-and-Cubs	Veronica chamaedrys - Germander Speedwell
Epilobium hirsutum - Great Willowherb	Plantago lanceolata - Ribwort Plantain	Veronica persica - Field Speedwell
Euphorbia peplus Petty Spurge - Petty Spurge	Plantago major - Greater plantain	Veronica serpyllifolia - Thyme-Leaved Speedwell
Festuca rubra - Red fescue	Poa annua - Annual meadow-grass	Vicia sativa - Common Vetch
	Poa pratensis - Smooth Meadow-grass	Viola riviniana - Common Dog Violet