Clifton Meadow
Clifton Meadow is a 9.5 hectare (26 acre) un-improved neutral meadow adjoining the river Thames. During the spring and summer it provides an attractive display of wild flowers. It is one of a series of flood meadows between Clifton Hampden and Little Wittenham, most of which have been destroyed by ploughing in recent decades. This meadow was bought by the Northmoor Trust in 1991 and is now managed as a nature reserve.
Clifton Meadow lies some 3km upstream of Little Wittenham Nature Reserve. Two Public Rights of Way cross the meadow. The Thames Path, a National Trail, runs the length of the meadow along the riverbank and a public footpath runs along the western boundary to meet the Thames Path
Geology and Soils
The underlying geology is a mixture of gravels and clay pockets, all deposited by the Thames. Over the gravels the soils are well drained, but where clays occur drainage is impeded and the soils tend to be waterlogged for much of the year. During the winter months the Thames periodically floods low lying areas of the meadow. Differences in soil and hydrology determine the species of plant found growing on the meadow and make for a diverse species composition.
Plants
The greatest botanical interest lies in the centre of the meadow. A central band dominated by Hard Rush (Juncus inflexus) and Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) possibly indicates the course of an old river channel. Here characteristic wet grassland flowers such as Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) and Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) occur in good numbers along with various Sedges (Carex spp.). Adjacent lies another band supporting large numbers of plants indicative of unimproved grassland. These include Quaking Grass (Briza media), Adder's-Tongue Fern (Ophioglossum vulgatum), Devil's-Bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis), Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) and in freely drained areas an impressive display of Meadow Saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata).
The trampled gateway to the meadow supports a large population of the rare arable flower Mousetail (Myosurus minimus). Although typically found in damp corners in arable fields it is equally at home in gateways where trampling by livestock ensures plenty of bare soil for the seed to germinate each year.
The remaining vegetation across the meadow generally species poor and dominated by the coarse grasses, including Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) and Meadow Barley (Hordeum secalinum). Parts seem to have been ploughed and re-seeded in the past. There is very little evident emergent vegetation bordering the river, mainly small patches of True Bulrush (Schoenoplectus lacustris). This is primarily due to erosion caused by repeated boat wash.
Birds
Around 70 species of bird have been seen on the meadow. Known breeding species include Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus), Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) and Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella). As Reed Buntings use a range of sites and habitats, the birds nesting on Clifton Meadow should be considered part of a larger population. The closest area of land owned by the Northmoor Trust and used by Reed Buntings is Paradise Wood (located between Long Wittenham and Little Wittenham). Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) bred on site until the mid-1980's and remain frequent winter visitors. We hope they will begin to breed again in the near future.
During the summer months many birds nesting on adjacent farmland use the meadow for feeding. These include a number a declining arable species, such as Linnet (Carduelis cannabina), Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra), Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) and Skylark (Alauda arvensis).
The Thames is a major migration route for many birds especially during the winter months. Recent winter visitors are Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) and Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo).
Invertebrates
Although very little work has been done it is apparent that Clifton Meadow is an important site for many locally and nationally uncommon species. Some of the more interesting species, mostly characteristic of wet grasslands, are listed below.
The meadow supports a large population of the Lesser Marsh Grasshopper (Chorthippus albomarginatus) and the Slender Ground Hopper (Tetrix subulata) frequents areas of bare mud. The 26 Hoverflies recorded include Eristalinus sepulchralis, Helophilus trivittatus and Metasyrphus latifasciata. The 21 Ground Beetles include Carabus granulatus, Chlaenius nigricornis, Dyschirius globosus and Pterostichus anthracinus. The 14 Snails and Slugs include the Tawny Glass Snail (Euconulus alderi), the Shiny Glass Snail (Zonitoides nitidus), the Beautiful Grass Snail (Vallonia pulchella) and the Marsh Slug (Deroceras laeve). The aquatic Moss Bladder Snail (Aplexa hypnorum) thrives in the temporary pool on the meadow. The meadow also supports a colony of Marbled White Butterfly (Melanargia galathea).
Management
The wildlife features of Clifton Meadow are important for a number of reasons. For example, Reed Buntings declined by 64% in the 25 years up to 1998 (BTO) and are the subject of a national Species Action Plan. The flood plain meadow habitat at Clifton Meadow is part of a small remnant of the meadows which once stretched from Clifton Hampden to Little Wittenham. This type of habitat (neutral grassland) is considered important enough to have its own local Habitat Action Plan.
All management of Clifton Meadow is designed to try to ensure the long-term viability of the important habitats and species found there. To prevent coarse grasses and scrub from ousting the wildflowers the grassland must be grazed and/or cut for hay. Many invertebrates and birds cannot survive a hay cut, so it is essential that no more than 1/3 of the meadow is cut in any one year. The hay-cut is therefore targeted at areas where the wildflowers would most benefit. The remainder of the meadow remains un-cut, but the whole site is grazed with cattle during late summer and autumn, after birds have finished breeding. The trampling of the cattle helps create bare areas for Mousetail to survive. In the long-term we also hope to improve the extent and structure of the bankside and marginal vegetation.
We monitor key species of plants and birds, and grassland structure, as a check on the effectiveness of our management. In this way we can tell whether important and highly visible species are doing well, and can be sure that habitat exists to support the less visible species such as Ground Beetles and Snails.
The Reed Buntings on Clifton Meadow are of particular concern, because they require arable land to feed on in winter. We can only influence the availability of breeding habitat on the meadow.
