A Leicestershire beauty spot rich in rare wildflowers is now protected for future generations after being declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Johnson’s Meadows, with its 6.5 hectares (16 acres) of unspoiled grasslands, is also a haven for wildlife. Lying between the villages of Woodhouse Eaves and Woodhouse, north of Leicester, it is one of several SSSIs in Charnwood Forest.
The meadows – encircled by tall, wide hedgerows – support an impressive variety of grasses, such as crested dogs-tail, red fescue and sweet vernal grass. Among them grow wildflowers including common knapweed, great burnet and meadow buttercup. Perhaps the most striking is the marsh orchid. Flowering from late May to early summer, it flourishes in the meadows.
The site also contains heritage features in the form of medieval ridge-and-furrow earthworks and the remains of a medieval settlement. These further demonstrate the antiquity of the grassland and conservation importance of the site.
The land has been handed down through the Johnson family for 3 generations. They continue to manage the meadows in a traditional and environmentally sympathetic manner.