There are many different plant species that are found on floodplain meadows, and like the plant communities, they can tell you much about the site’s history, soil, hydrology and current management.
Two plants of particular interest are often associated with floodplain meadows:
- Snakeshead fritillary is a rare species, found on less than 30 sites in the UK where it is considered to be wild.
- Narrow-leaved water-dropwort is more closely associated with damper examples of the Burnet floodplain plant community, and can survive moderately heavy grazing and raised fertility. Both plants were included in the vascular plant red data list for Great Britain where they are described as nationally scarce. Find out more about snake’s head fritillary research and activities, and about other species of floodplain meadows and what they can tell you below.
