The Higher Plants of Hylands Park
Herbaceous Plants recorded from ancient woodland
Allium ursinum Epipactis purpurata Milium effusum
Arum maculatum Geum urbanum Moerhingia trinervia
Brachypodium sylvaticum Hyacynthoides non-scripta Orchis mascula
Bromopsis ramosus Iris foetidissima Polystichum aculeatum
Carex pendula Listera ovata Polystichum setiferum
Carex sylvatica Lonicera periclymenum Primula vulgaris
Daphne laureola Lysimachia nummularia Ranunculus auricomus
Dryopteris carthusiana Melica uniflora Veronica montana
Dryopteris filix mas Mercurialis perennis Viola reichenbachiana
Grassland
Hylands has a good range of grassland types, from long established old to newly created. As a rale
of thumb, the oldest grasslands arc in the southern sector of the park; the new arc in the north. The
latter are sown grass, created from former arable fields re-incorporated into the park and now
managed as hay meadow. Geologically the park is London Clay overlain by chalky boulder clay
and head (possibly with very minor superficial deposits of pebbly gravel and sand). All these occur
at the surface and there is a correspondingly diverse mosaic of probably Unclassifiable grassland
within the park boundary running from acid to calcareous.
Acid (Formal Gardens)
Calluna vulgaris Hypericum humifusum
Carex ovalis Potentilla erecta
Galium saxatile Rumex acetosella
Calcareous (Writtle Hills)*
Briza media Trifolium ochroleucon
Hordeum secalinum Trisetum flavescens
Primula veris
Because of their diverse nature and extent, I suspect that the grasslands at Hylands constitute one
of the most important assemblages remaining in Essex. It is probable that Essex has lost some 98%
of its old flower-rich meadows to agricultural intensification.
*This tiny patch of very old grassland has over forty species of higher plant in it. Others include
Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Conopodium majus and Juncus articulatus.
Essex Parks: Section 2 - Hylands Park
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