Meadows
The Main Wildflower Meadow Grid reference ST565 744
In summer the meadow areas on the Downs are simply a magical place to visit. For a glorious couple of months they transform from an inconspicuous area of short turf to a knee-high sea of rippling grasses, packed full of colourful wildflowers and buzzing with all sorts of insects. Collectively, the Downs have the largest area of limestone grassland meadow in Bristol. The Main Meadow is the biggest meadow on the Downs.
The dominant (or most common) grass is called upright brome but over 20 other species of grasses can be found here including: quaking grass, crested dog’s-tail, cock’s-foot and sheep’s fescue.
Wildflowers to look out for include: cowslips, bird’s-foot-trefoil, oxeye daisies, goat’s-beard, dropwort, lady’s bedstraw, small scabious, black knapweed, yellow-wort, common centaury, common spotted, southern marsh and bee orchids.
In late summer, after the plants have had time to set seed, the meadows are cut to make hay. Read the interpretation panel, in the meadow, to find out about the sheep that used to graze the Downs.
The Circular Road Meadow Grid reference ST5642 7469
This small site is the only meadow area on the Downs where you will find kidney vetch, bladder campion, and the wonderfully named corky-fruited water dropwort. The main species of grass is called upright brome but also look out for the smaller quaking grass. You may spot wildflowers such as: mouse-ear-hawkweed, fairy flax, wild thyme, dwarf thistle, goat’s-beard, lady’s bedstraw, salad burnet, harebells, small scabious, yellow rattle, burnet saxifrage, and if you’re lucky the occasional bee orchid.
The Main Wildflower Meadow Grid reference ST565 744
In summer the meadow areas on the Downs are simply a magical place to visit. For a glorious couple of months they transform from an inconspicuous area of short turf to a knee-high sea of rippling grasses, packed full of colourful wildflowers and buzzing with all sorts of insects. Collectively, the Downs have the largest area of limestone grassland meadow in Bristol. The Main Meadow is the biggest meadow on the Downs.
The dominant (or most common) grass is called upright brome but over 20 other species of grasses can be found here including: quaking grass, crested dog’s-tail, cock’s-foot and sheep’s fescue.
Wildflowers to look out for include: cowslips, bird’s-foot-trefoil, oxeye daisies, goat’s-beard, dropwort, lady’s bedstraw, small scabious, black knapweed, yellow-wort, common centaury, common spotted, southern marsh and bee orchids.
In late summer, after the plants have had time to set seed, the meadows are cut to make hay. Read the interpretation panel, in the meadow, to find out about the sheep that used to graze the Downs.
The Circular Road Meadow Grid reference ST5642 7469
This small site is the only meadow area on the Downs where you will find kidney vetch, bladder campion, and the wonderfully named corky-fruited water dropwort. The main species of grass is called upright brome but also look out for the smaller quaking grass. You may spot wildflowers such as: mouse-ear-hawkweed, fairy flax, wild thyme, dwarf thistle, goat’s-beard, lady’s bedstraw, salad burnet, harebells, small scabious, yellow rattle, burnet saxifrage, and if you’re lucky the occasional bee orchid.