Hurst Meadows – Botanical Considerations
Brief survey from Surrey Botanical Society:
Hurst Meadows is an area of Thames-side grassland underlying which is a mixture of thin, acid, gravelly soils and deeper more calcareous soils. The whole area, including the towpath, has long been known for its botanical riches.
Although part of this area has in the past been subject to some disturbance, other areas appear unscathed and there is now an interesting flora present over much of the site. Its continuing development is aided by a sympathetic management regime. A fairly brief survey carried out on 22nd July 2011 found over 90 native species , a wide variety for such a relatively small site. Meadow Crane’s-bill (Geranium pratense), Dropwort (Filipendula vulgaris), Burnet Saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga) and Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor) were noted, all characteristic of the calcareous Thames-side grasslands. Other noteworthy plants seen included Hoary Cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea), Hare’s-foot Clover (Trifolium arvense) and Knotted Clover (Trifolium striatum), all characteristic of thin acid soils.
List of species on the riverbank, Tagg's Island to Garrick's Ait, August 2015.
Insect surveys in Hurst Park - the most recent carried out March 2018 - are collated here.
Extract from RSPB observations for Hurst Park
UPDATE (2016)
275 species of flora have so far been recorded.
14 of them are included in the Surrey Rare Plant register, some because they are nationally scarce.
Brief report on Bat species at Hurst Meadows
After a number of bat suveys in Hurst meadows and along the riverside. It is confirmed that we have at least 8 species of bat using the area: This is an unusually high number. It seems likely that many are roosting in Bushy Park SSSI and foraging in Hurst Park and Meadows, particularly along the riverside.The Riverside margin along the north part of Hurst Meadows is in the Bushy Park SSSI Buffer Zone.
Species recorded so far:
Common pipistrelle
Soprano pipistrelle
Nathusius' pipistrelle
Daubenton's bat
Natterer's bat
Noctule
Serotine
Leisler's bat
Brown long-eared bat
www.bats,org.uk/pages/uk_bats.html
An entomological survey was carried out on 5 August 2011
In brief, 74 insect species were found, including four notable species and one species of leaf-hopper which was first found in Britain only last year. Naturalists report that butterflies, flies, bees, wasps, grasshoppers, and bugs are all well-represented in the Meadows, and they were able to identify the following:
Mayfly
Roesel's Bush-cricket
Speckled Bush-cricket
Common Green Grasshopper
Field Grasshopper
Meadow Grasshopper
Common Earwig
4 species plantbug/grassbug
Damsel bug
2 species of rhopalid bug
Bishop's Mitre
Green Shieldbug
Parent Bug
Frog-hopper
3 species of leaf-hopper
soldier beetle
Harlequin Ladybird
Seven-spot Ladybird
Adonis Ladybird
16-spot Ladybird
Leaf beetle
Caddis-fly
3 species of nepticulid moth
Micro-moth
7 species of gracillariid moth
Yponomeutid moth
3 species of tortrix moth
5 species of pyralid moth
Brown Argus
Common Blue
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown
Common Carpet
Cloaked Minor
Silver Y
Robberfly
8 species of hoverfly
3 species of Picture-winged fly
2 species of parasitic fly
Sawfly
Mason wasp or potter wasp
Solitary bee
Bumblebee
Orb-weaver spider
Survey findings submitted by Jovita Kaunang, Field Naturalist
23 species of butterfly have now been confirmed
Small White
Large White
Green veined White
Orange Tip
Comma
Peacock
Red Admiral
Small Skipper
Essex Skipper
Large Skipper
Common Blue
Brown Argus
Small Copper
Speckled Wood
Ringlet
Meadow Brown
Gatekeeper
Small Tortoiseshell
Holly Blue
Painted Lady
Purple Hairstreak
Small Heath
Brimstone
Birds which have been recorded include:
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Redstart
Siskin
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Sparrowhawk
Hobby
Black Headed Gull
Common Tern
Collared Dove
WoodPigeon
Ring-Necked Parakeet
Tawney Owl
Redstart
Black Redstart
Swallow
House Martin
Swift
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Wren
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carion Crow
Rook
Water birds:
Canada Goose
Egyptian Goose
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Cormorant
Moorhen
Coot
Mandarin Duck
Mute Swan
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Kingfisher
Teal
Red Crested Pochard
Pochard
Grey Heron