About Mountsorrel > Outdoors > Centenary Pasture

Centenary Pasture

(Halstead Road Open Space)

The Centenary Pasture, so named to mark the centenary of the Parish Council in 1994, is an unimproved, flower-rich pasture of high wildlife interest owned by Charnwood Borough Council. It has been designated a Community Wildlife Area, to be managed primarily for wildlife, in accordance with a management plan prepared by the Charnwood Wildlife Project. It also provides an opportunity for quiet, informal recreation.

Rigg and furrow are the conspicuous undulations in the field, which were caused by mediaeval ploughing with oxen. Modern farming practice, such as deep ploughing, destroys rigg and furrow, so the presence of this feature indicates that the grassland has been established here for many centuries, since the enclosures in the 18th Century. Flower-rich grassland is a rare wildlife habitat and plants found here include Knapweed, Meadow Vetchling, Lady’s Bedstraw, Bird’s-foot Trefoil and grasses such as Meadow Foxtail and Yellow Oat-grass. The variety of species also shows that the field has not been improved or treated with herbicides.

The granite outcrop in the centre of the field forms an extremely valuable habitat for wildlife and is rare in Charnwood, due to quarrying. As the soil over the outcrop is thin and dries quickly during the summer, the vegetation found here is of a type specifically adapted to the conditions by flowering and setting seed early in the year. Examples are gorse scrub and small plants such as Sheep’s Sorrel, Early Hair-grass and Harebell. Lichens and mosses can be found growing on the surface of the rocks and, if you look closely at the ground, you may see tiny holes. These are the burrows of mining bees who find the thin, warm soils ideal to nest in.

Hedges of Quick Thorn (Hawthorn) and Sloe (Blackthorn) border the site and have been managed traditionally by laying, which ensures fresh growth and prolongs the life of the hedge. Hedgerows are a significant habitat, providing cover and food for a host of wildlife. Birds of open country, such as Yellowhammers and Linnets are often seen here. Elsewhere in the field the Hawthorn has grown into mature trees that in autumn produce a profusion of red berries - an important food source for the Redwings and Fieldfares (migrant thrushes from Scandinavia), which visit in winter.

Management is essential to maintain the ecological interest of the field. Cattle lightly graze the Halstead Road Pasture over the summer and this keeps the vigorous grasses in check and stops the establishment of scrub and trees, thus allowing more delicate plants to thrive. Cattle graze some areas more than others and this variation in grazing ensures that some of the plants flower and set seed and create tussocks in the grass which are important for insects to burrow and hibernate in.