The Common – 3rd annual plant survey

Ten people helped with the third annual botanical survey of Scaynes Hill Common on 27 June this year. The same three quadrats (2m x 2m squares), which were surveyed in previous years were marked out and studied to identify the range of species in the quadrat as well as their abundance. In total 25 different species were identified in the three quadrats (see list below), which is similar to last year when 27 species were recorded. Also similarly to last year quadrat 3 contained 16 species, which was many more then the first 2 quadrats. Special thanks are due to Karen Arnold for taking down the record.

The data collected indicates a good match to the category MG5c, which represents a Crested Dogstail – Knapweed grassland found on neutral soils which have not been subjected to agricultural improvement. The “c” sub-community is the one occurring on the more acidic soils within this range and plants typical of acidic soils such as Tormentil, Heath Speedwell and Heath Bedstraw, all of which were found.

The data also indicates a reasonable match to the category MG1e, which represents a False-oatgrass-knapweed grassland., which is not surprising as lot of knapweed and some False Oatgrass was found in quadrat 3. This is a plant community often associated with un-mown and un-grazed grassland such as that found on road-side verges.

List of plants identified on the Common:

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Bent Grass (Agrostis species)

Sweet Vernal Grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)

False oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius)

Common (KnapweedCentaurea nigra)

Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata)

Red Fescue (Festuca rubra)

Heath Bedstraw (Galium saxatile)

Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium)

Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus)

Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis)

Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus uliginosus)

Field Wood-rush (Luzula campestris)

Tormentil (Potentilla erecta)

Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)

Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)

Ragwort (Senecio jacobea)

Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea)

Devilsbit scabious (Sucissa pratensis)

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

White clover (Trifolium repens)

Heath Speedwell (Veronica officinalis)

Hairy Tare (Vicia hirsuta)