Identifying Wildflowers: Upland Hay Meadows Part 1

Hay meadows are among the UK’s most biodiverse habitats, supporting a vibrant mix of wildflowers, grasses, and the many insects, birds, and mammals that depend on them. Once widespread, these traditional meadows have declined dramatically over the past century — but with the right approach, they can be restored to bring life, colour, and ecological value back to the landscape.

Learning to identify the plants of species-rich hay meadows is an important skill for anyone involved in their conservation, management or monitoring. Being able to recognise characteristic species can help us assess the condition of individual meadows, understand how plant communities respond to management, and contribute records that build a wider picture of the status and distribution of these important habitats.

In this session, we'll cover a number of common hay meadow flowering plants, alongside the specialist species found specifically in upland hay meadows.

Common hay meadow plants:

• Meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris)
• Ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
• Pignut (Conopodium majus)
• Common sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
• Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)
• Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

Upland hay meadow specialists:

• Melancholy thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum)
• Globeflower (Trollius europaeus)
• Wood crane’s-bill (Geranium sylvaticum)
• Great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis)
• Water avens (Geum rivale)
• Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla)

Identifying Wildflowers: Upland Hay Meadows Part 2 will focus on the less common hay meadow plant species.