Mappp.co geology and wildlife sites

Glyme Valley

…hing. These include lady's mantle Alchemilla vestita, dwarf and woolly thistles Cirsium acaule and Cirsium eriophorum, cowslip Primula veris, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, betony Betonica officinalis, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis and common spotted orchid Dactylor…

Stonesby Quarry

…uding autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, cowslip Primula veris, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyrami…

Twywell Gullet

…r, tall broomrape Orobanche elatior, basil thyme Acinos arvensis, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, blue fleabane Erigeron acris, hound’s tongue Cynoglossum officinale and bee orchid Ophrys apifera. In early summer …

Walton and Ivythorn Hills

…ld parsnip Pastinaca sativa, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum, common rest-harrow Ononis repens, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and small scabious Scabiosa columbaria. pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyram…

Middle Barton Fen

… dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus. Other prominent species include woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, cowslip Primula veris and spiny rest-harrow Ononis spinosa. Additional habitat is provided by a hedge which runs al…

Common Hill

…ny of the herbs found here are uncommon in the county, including woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, marjoram Origanum vulgare, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata and common gromwell Lithospermum officinale. Some areas of grassland have been invaded b…

Debden Water

…oat grass Avenula pubescens, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis. Woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum is present both on the northern slope and in the more neutral grassland in the valley bottom where it is i…

Eastnor Park

… variety of herbs including lesser spearwort Ranunculus flammula, marsh thistle Cirsium palustre, greater bird’s foot trefoil Lotus pedunculatus and brooklime Veronica beccabunga. The western ridge of the Park supports limestone grassland with typical lime loving species such as …

Sheep's Banks

…rying from short turf, dominated by sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and glaucous sedge Carex flacca, to ranker areas dominated by upright brome Bromus erectus with woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum. Locally abundant species include quaking grass Briza m…

Ketton Quarries

…cca, bee orchid Ophrys apifera, common rest-harrow Ononis repens, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and viper’s bugloss Echium vulgare and locally rare species such as woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum. The dominant scrub species is hawthorn …

Port Meadow with Wolvercote Common & Green

…and the water table is relatively high. It has been invaded by creeping thistle Cirsium arvense and is a variant of the Lolium perenne subcommunity of the Festuca rubra Agrostis stolonifera Potentilla anserina grassland. The fourth region is the highest and the driest part of Po…

Tingewick Meadows

…radicata, goat's beard Tragopogon pratensis and the rather local woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum. The more calcareous grassland is particularly rich in species and includes many which are now uncommon in the Vale of Aylesbury, such as quaking grass Briza media, dwarf thistle Ci…

Barton Hills

…sects. Typical herbs present are harebell Campanula rotundifolia, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris and cowslip Primula veris. Sheep grazing perpetuates this herb rich turf in which six species of orchid are known, including fragrant orchid Gymnadenia co…

Highclere Park

…mentil Potentilla erecta, whilst the calcicoles element comprises dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba subsp. minor and large thyme Thymus pulegioides. The slope supports a large populations of field gentian G…

Taynton Quarries

…s among a short, herb rich sward of sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild thyme Thymus praecox, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica and bee orchid Ophrys apifera. The most recent quarry was last worked extensively in 19…

Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs

…ypical herbs including common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba. Also present are glaucous sedge Carex flacca, yellow wort Blackstonia pe…

Gomm Valley

…ging flax Linum catharticum, carline and stemless thistles Carlina vulgaris and Cirsium acaule, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, common centaury Centaurium erythraea, twayblade Neottia ovata and pyramidal, bee and common spotted orchids Anaca…

Swaby Valley

…awkweed Pilosella officinarum, purging flax Linum catharticum, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule and wild thyme Thymus praecox. A feature of the north facing slope is the number of common spotted and pyramidal orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Anacamptis pyramidalis amongst small an…

Burledge Sidelands and Meadows

…rum, fairy flax Linum catharticum, hoary plantain Plantago media, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and wild thyme Thymus polytrichus. Heath grass Danthonia decumbens also occurs in these more strongly calcareou…

Roughdown Common

… the steep slopes of the pit contain glaucous sedge Carex flacca, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. Amongst scattered scrub are found twayblade Listeria ovata and a good colony of pyramidal orchid Anacamptis py…

Willingford Meadows

…e in Sussex away from the chalk of the South Downs. These include dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and common rest-harrow Ononis repens. A marshy area in the southwestern field is dominated by meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria. Other species found in this area include ragged-robin Sile…

Westfield Farm Chalk Bank

…small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, fairy flax Linum catharticum, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild thyme Thymus praecox, glaucous sedge Carex flacca and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, whilst the longer vegetation includes field scabious Knautia arvensis, cowslip Primula v…

Upton Cow Down

…re both common. The turf contains a high proportion of herbs with dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, cowslip Primula veris and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. …

Winklebury Hill

…s have recently been recorded; salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, glaucous sedge Carex flacca and fairy flax Linum catharticum are examples of those occurring consistently throughout the turf. There is an exceptional range of species which are indica…

Cliff House

…plantain Plantago media, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and stemless thistle Cirsium acaule. The turf is short in the hummocky areas of the old workings and includes a range of grasses such as sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, upright brome Bromopsis erecta, tor grass Brachypodium…

Ham Hill

…urnet Poterium sanguisorba, common milkwort Polygala vulgaris and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule. The less common horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and squinancywort Asperula cynanchica also occur, while both clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and autumn gentian Gentianella …

East Walton and Adcock's Common

…sent in the sward including salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule. cowslip Primula veris, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, squinancywort A…

Dank's Down and Truckle Hill

…t Poterium sanguisorba, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, fair flax Linum catharticum, cowslip Primula veris and small scabious Scabiosa columbaria. Common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium achieves high frequencies throughout the grassland.…

Seabrook Stream

…sland are found species characteristic of basic soils, such as stemless thistle Cirsium acaule as well as other species characteristic of more acid soils, such as heath speedwell Veronica officinalis. The whole of the Seabrook valley supports an exceptional number of cranefly spe…

Dean Brook Valley Pastures

…d burnet Poterium sanguisorba, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule. The western field nearer the stream has a herb rich flora, which includes cat’s ear Hypochaeris radicata, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris, ragged-ro…

Stockbridge Down

…e vetch Hippocrepis comosa, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, fairy flax Linum catharticum, mignonette Reseda lutea, thyme Thymus polytrichus, thyme leaved sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia and the parasitic knapweed broomrape Orobanche elatior. B…

Porton Down

… the following types. Sheep's fescue Festuca ovina Avenula pratensis grassland, Cirsium acaule Asperula cynanchica typical sub community and the Pseudoscleropodium purum Prunella vulgaris and Holcus lanatus Trifolium repens sub communities. Upright brome Bromus erectus grassland …

Blaen Nedd

…lting from past quarrying activities and in some of these stands, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule is common. Where the sward is more open and rocky, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris is common and in some areas soft-leaved sedge Carex montana is abundant. Associated with the calcareo…

Dallow Downs and Winsdon Hill

…nautia arvensis. The diversity of calcareous plants also includes dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum and hoary plantain Plantago media. Dallow Downs and Winsdon Hill SSSI su…

Long Dale, Hartington

…lopes the sward is characterised by the frequent occurrence of stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, which is on the northern edge of its British distribution in the Peak District, with frequent autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, both of which are again found with quaking grass, mea…

Black Ditches, Cavenham

…ng dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, large thyme Thymus pulegioides, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, burnet saxifrade Pimpinella saxifraga, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and rock rose Helianthemum nummularium. Two locally rare plants, heath sedge Carex ericetorum and bastard toadf…

Clearbury Down

…al downland herbs such as devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba are frequent. Abundant cowslips Primula veris and horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa give the down a yellow hue at varying times of the year. Notew…

Hog Cliff

…ld thyme Thymus polytrichus, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule and the local clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata. The highest proportions of devil’s-bit Succisa pratensis and betony Betonica officinalis, which are typically abundant in the cha…

The Bury Farm

… the neutral swards, with additional, distinctive species such as dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild thyme Thymus polytrichus, fairy flax Linum catharticum, rest-harrow Ononis repens, wild carrot Daucus carota, mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum and eyebrights Euphrasia spp…

Windmill Hill

…mmunities contain many characteristic flowering plants such as stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, purging flax Linum catharticum and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. The site is noted for its orchids which include twayblade Neottia ovata, pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis…

Hackpen, Warren & Gramp's Hill Downs

…ch Hippocrepis comosa, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis. An enclosed, ungrazed strip on Hackpen Down contains hawthorns and elder …

Farthing Downs and Happy Valley

…occurrence in London owing to loss of this habitat. These include dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild basil Clinopodium vulgare, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, field scabious Knautia arvensis, common milkwort Polygala vulgaris, sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia and hairy violet …

Greenham and Crookham Commons

…ses the diversity, with such plants as wild carrot Daucus carota, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, purging flax Linum catharticum, pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and the mosses Trichostomum and Encalypta streptocarpa growing alongside …

Chilbolton Common

…pecies and containing several typical chalk species, for example, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, cowslip Primula veris and squinancywort Asperula cynanchica. Of particular note within these areas are two parallel dry bank and ditch hollow ways which support a closely rabbit croppe…

Terrace Hills Pasture

…ataa, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, musk thistle Carduus nutans, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and small scabious Scabiosa columbaria. A small stream rises from a spring along the southern boundary of the site and is associated with an area of marsh containing such characteristic…

Woodnook Valley

…elianthemum nummularium, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and stemless thistle Cirsium acaule. In the areas where the grazing has been less heavy, more coarse grasses such as upright brome Bromus erectus and tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum occur, but the typical limestone herbs …

Cwrt y Bela a Springdale

… of dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria and smaller populations of dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and autumn lady’s-tresses Spiranthes spiralis. Remarks: Part of the site, Springdale, is a nature reserve of the Gwent Wildlife Trust.

Axbridge Hill and Fry's Hill

…um, wild thyme Thymus praecox, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and many others including squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, purging flax Linum catharticum, autumn lady’s tresses Spiranthes spiralis, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, yellow wort Bla…

Poor's Allotment

… rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, thyme Thymus polytrichus, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus. The semi natural woodland habitat in the eastern part of the site is unusual in having oak Quercus robur a…

Tunnel Hill Meadow

…ow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella and common gromwell Lithospermum officinale. Four species of orchid occur, including bee orchid Ophrys apifera and greater butterfly orchid Platanth…

Leziate, Sugar and Derby Fens

… includes red fescue Festuca rubra, quaking grass Briza media, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, purging flax Linum catharticum and Autumn felwort Gentianella amarella. The damp furrows are dominated by creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens with lesser spearwort Ranunculus flammula…

Wells Chalk Pit

…y rabbits and species associated with the chalky soils include stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, musk thistle Carduus nutans, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, purging flax Linum catharticum, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, bee orchid Ophrys apifera, common spotted orchid…

Burghclere Beacon

… ladies’ bedstraw Galium verum, hedge bedstraw Galium mollugo, creeping thistle Cirsium acaule, fairy flax Linum catharticum, bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and felwor…

Wylye and Church Dean Downs

…halk grassland, supporting the third largest British colony of tuberous thistle Cirsium tuberosum, together with several other species of nationally restricted distribution. Lying on gentle and therefore potentially ploughable slopes, the site is one of very few remnants of the p…

Chew Valley Lake

…iry flax Linum catharticum, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule in more calcareous areas. There is a colony of several thousand green winged orchid Anacamptis morio and abundant cowslip Primula veris, spiny rest-harrow Ononis spinosa and dyer's gree…

Lobbington Hall Farm Meadow

… saxifrage Silaum silaus. Cowslips Primula veris are frequent and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, is occasional. County rarities present in the meadow include dropwort Filipendula vulgaris and green winged orchid Anacamptis morio.

Yarnbury Castle

…outer banks. Herbs constitute a high proportion of the turf, with dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa abundant. The smaller trailing herbs are represented by common thyme Thymus praecox, squinancywort Asperula cyna…

St. Catherine's Valley

…hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, hoary plantain Plantago media and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule frequently occurring. This is the only known locality in Avon for the nationally rare plant dragon's teeth Lotus maritimus. There are also small areas of species rich grassland dominate…

Powerstock Common and Wytherston Farm

… pratensis grassland (CG2), Bromus erectus grassland (CG3), Juncus subnodulosus-Cirsium palustre fen meadow (M22); Molinia caerulea-Cirsium dissectum fen meadow (M24) and Juncus effusus/acutiflorus -Galium palustre rush pasture (M23). Fen meadow dominated by tussocky purple moor …

Whitehorse Hill

…e Festuca ovina together with rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild thyme Thymus praecox, bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, common milkwort Polygala vulgaris and glaucou…

Hipley Hill

…arities with southern chalk grassland as shown by the presence of dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule. This may be dueto the lower altitude 200 250 metres and sheltered position on the edge of the limestone massif. It also includes a number of uncommon and local species such as angular …

Compton Chine to Steephill Cove

…ica, bee orchid Ophrys apifera, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga. Populations of the endangered field cow wheat Melampyrum arvense and nationally scarce bastard toadflax T…

Purbeck Ridge (East)

…rsist in the overtopping sward include primrose Primula vulgaris, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and hoary plantain Plantago media. European gorse Ulex europaeus is widespread and a diverse chalk scrub is locally dominant containing tree and shrubs such as ash, blackthorn Prunus sp…

Homington and Coombe Bissett Downs

…rnet Poterium sanguisorba, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, fairy flax Linum catharticum and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. In areas of taller sward field scabious Knautia arvensis, common knapweed Centaurea nigra and greater knapweed C. …

Quarley Hill Fort

… sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, glaucous sedge Carex flacca and stemless thistle Cirsium acaule. The rich herb complement includes such typical chalk loving plants as felwort Gentianella amarella, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris together with s…

Rodney Stoke

… scabious Scabiosa columbaria, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and glaucous sedge Carex flacca. Dwarf shrub species also occur. Thereis a large area dominated by western gorse Ulex gallii and elsewhere heather Calluna vulgaris is found as part of a…

Holies Down

…oted the diversity of chalk flowers. Most abundant species are stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, eyebright Euphrasia nemorosa, mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, fairy flax Linum catharticum, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and ragwort Ja…

Gooderstone Warren

…rose Helianthemum nummularium, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris are amongst the more unusual species present, along with Hairy oat grass Avenula pubescens and meadow oat grass …

Cockthorpe Common, Stiffkey

…rge thyme Thymus pulegioides, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, cowslip Primula veris, twayblade Neottia ovata, pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Star of Bethlehem Ornithagalum umbellatum. Some …

East Harling Common

…pulation of common twayblade Neottia ovata. Other species include dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, common quaking grass Briza media spiny rest harrow Ononis spinosa and hoary plantain Plantago media, whilst ant hills have a distinctive flora including…

King's Play Hill

…ed by an abundance of herbs typical of chalk grassland, including dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and squinancywort Asperula cynanchica. …

Hatfield Forest

…trawberry clover Trifolium fragiferum, wild thyme Thymus praecox, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and adder's tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum. Typical plants of a more sandy area include sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, heath grass Danthonia decumbens, spring sedge Carex caryophyllea, upr…

Pike Corner

…lants more characteristic of chalk or limestone downland, e.g. stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, fairy flax Linum catharticum, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum and upright brome Bromus erectus. The site is exceptionally rich in sedges, with spring…

Rampisham Down

…show a more calcareous element to the flora, with species such as dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, quaking grass Briza media, downy oat grass Avenula pubescens and lady’s bedstraw Galium verum present within the sward. There are small, well defined stands of lowland heathland occur…

Saltbox Hill

…ow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild basil Clinopodium vulgare, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, marjoram Origanum vulgare and cowslip Primula veris. In addition the site is one of the last remaining examples of o…

Starveall and Stony Down

…idespread and frequent for example dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, self heal Prunella vulgaris and bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Species typical of the western chalk, such as devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, betony Betonica officinali…

Hardwick Lodge Meadow

…hair grass Koeleria macrantha, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, hoary plantain Plantago media and cowslip Primula veris. Over much of the site these communities are modified by the presence of abundant tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa indica…

Inwood, Warleigh

…aisy Leucanthemum vulgare, common cat's ear Hypochaeris radicata, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and common milkwort Polygala vulgaris. Of particular note are the large populations of both spiked star of Bethlehem and the scarce meadow saffron Colchicum autumnale, which also grows …

Pilch Fields

…oat grass Avenula pratensis, as well as, among the many herbs, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, cowslip Primula veris, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, spiny rest harrow Ononis spinosa, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus and green winged and common sp…

Sydling Valley Downs

…nsis locally very abundant, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria and burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga. The flora of the higher slopes in pla…

The Cheddar Complex

…sociate species on south facing slopes with shallow soils include dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common rose Helianthemum nummularium, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, wild thyme Thymus praecox and hoary plantain Plantago media. Soils of slopes with other aspects tend to be wett…

The Wye Valley

… Slack Side has abundant dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, whilst stemless thistle Cirsium acaule is frequent in the grassland of upper Hay Dale and the slopes east of Cowlow have locally abundant horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria. North facing…

The Perch

…verum, wild thyme Thymus praecox, glaucous sedge Carex flacca and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule. Three species of orchid occur in these grassland areas, green winged orchid Anacamptis morio, pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis and autumn lady’s tresses Spiranthes spiralis. Tow…

Willingdon Down

… the sward in association with squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, eyebright Euphrasia nemorosa, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, fairy flax Linum catharticum and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba. Rarer plants include field fleawort Senecio integ…

Field Barn Heaths, Hilborough

…chid Anacamptis pyramidalis, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, meadow and rue leaved saxifrages Saxifraga granulataa and S. tridactylites and thyme Thymus sp., along with species more characteristic of acidic grassland such as sheep’s sorrel Rumex…

Cheesefoot Head

…rich herb complement includes such typical chalk loving plants as dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, felwort Gentianella amarella, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria and cowslip Primula veris, together with several rath…

Dancersend Waterworks

…lackstonia perfoliata, horse shoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and stemless thistle Cirsium acaule. Other noteworthy species include adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum and the clover parasite lesser broomrape Orobanche minor. The chalk silt floor of one of the larger basins b…

Rack Hill

…reas of shorter turf with many typical limestone grassland herbs. Dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis and common rest-harrow Ononis repens occur widely. More restricted are clustered bellflower Campanula glomera…

Ringstead Downs

…tic herbs is present including squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild thyme Thymus praecox, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, burnet saxifrade Pimpinella saxifraga, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and eyebright Euphrasia officinalis. An old chalk p…

Salisbury Plain

…inancywort Asperula cynanchica, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild thyme Thymus praecox, the nationally scarce bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum and purple milk vetch Astragalus danicus in its most southerly British station. Devil's bit scabious…

Twinhills Woods and Meadows

…nent of these two fields is especially rich with common knapweed, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common centaury Centaurium erythraea, eyebright Euphrasia officinalis, lady's bedstraw Galium verum, common rose Helianthemum nummularium, mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, com…

Heath Hill Farm

…ecta, along with plants associated with alkaline soils such as stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, hoary plantain Plantago media, fairy flax Linum catharticum, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus and glaucous sedge Carex flacca. The rush pastu…

Black Hill Down

…y. The herb component of the sward is very rich with abundant stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus. Other frequent herbs of this grassland include harebell Campanula rotundifolia, squinancywort Asperula cynanchic…

Barnsley Warren

…ommunities are present such as salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and small scabious Scabiosa columbaria. The site also holds many locally restricted lime loving plants, such as chalk milkwort Polygala calcar…

Deadman's Grave, Icklingham

… short, open turf with abundant wild thyme Thymus polytrichus, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule and quaking grass Briza media, through grassier areas dominated by sheep's fescue Festuca ovina and crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha, to taller grassland with sweet vernal grass An…

Swinstead Valley

…lianthemum nummularium, mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, common bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and wild thyme Thymus praecox. Additional fine grasses present in the…

Syresham Marshy Meadows

…nthum odoratum and herbs such as harebell Campanula rotundifolia, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, betony Betonica officinalis, tormentil Potentilla erecta and lady’s mantle Alchemilla filicaulis spp. vestita. This field alone has 100 flowering plant species. The interest of the sit…

Bredon Hill

…ources, such as hawthorn Crataegus monogyna in hedgerows and scrub and thistles Cirsium spp. in grasslands, are important feeding and mating sites for the adults of saproxylic insects. Data currently available list 16 invertebrate species that are listed in the British Red Data …

Inkpen and Walbury Hills

…of particular interest include chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, which are now becoming rare in the county due to the loss of suitable chalk grassland habitat. Much of the grassland is kept closely grazed, gener…

Aston Rowant

…wer Campanula glomerata, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica and stemless thistle Cirsium acaule. The rough, more lightly grazed areas on deeper soils at the base of Beacon Hill and to the south of Bald Hill have communities dominated by upright brome Bromus erectus, typical of man…

Blandford Camp

…ld thyme Thymus polytrichus, squinancywort Asperula cyanchica and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule are typically prominent. Two nationally scarce species occur in their largest known Dorset populations on this site, dwarf sedge Carex humilis which is the only species to attain local …

Parkgate Down

…range of typical chalk downland plants are also present including dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, lady's bedstraw Galium verum, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, common milkwort Polygala vulgaris and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba. columbine Aquilegia vulgaris also occurs …

Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common

… a shorter herb rich sward occurs with wild thyme Thymus praecox, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. The grassland flora includes many plants which are scarce or local at a national or county level. These incl…

Purn Hill

…iry flax Linum catharticum, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule. The rare plants are mainly associated with the small exposures of Dolomitic limestone in the southern part of the site. Purn Hill is one of only five British sites for th enationally r…

Pitstone Hill

…ge thyme Thymus pulegioides, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and squinancywort Asperula cynanchica. The grassland is taller amongst the areas of scattered scrub with upright brome Bromopsis erecta, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, yell…

Bridgham & Brettenham Heaths

…ld wood rush Luzula campestris, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, wild thyme Thymus praecox, biting stonecrop Sedum acre and the rare Drooping Brome Bromus tectorum. Scrub is scattered over parts of the site and is dense in places. hawthorn Crataegus…

Restrop Farm and Brockhurst Wood

…l of calcareous habitats such as lady's bedstraw Galium verum, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, common milkwort Polygala vulgaris, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, fairy flax Linum catharticum and hoary plantain Plantago media.

Llanymynech and Llynclys Hills

… grasslands elsewhere in the Midlands owing to the scarcity of stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, upright brome Bromus erectus, tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum and meadow oat Avenula pratensis. Uncommon species occurring in grassland communities on this site include autumn lady’s t…

Oddy Hill and Tring Park

…awkbit Leontodon hispidus, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, cowslip Primula veris, glaucous sedge Carex flacca and common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium. In places the sward is particularly species rich with carline thistle Carlina vulgaris…

Sheepleas

…eep's fescue grass Festuca ovina, purging flax Linum catharticum, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and less commonly bee orchid Ophrys apifera, fly orchid Ophrys insectifera and bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum, an uncommon plant with a restricte…

Shiplate Slait

…is community is represented by two variants, one characterised by dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and Squinancywort Asperula cynanchica and another with particularly high cover of dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, common rose and salad burnet. Tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum grassland …

White Horse Hill

…ards remain herb-rich with horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule and squinancywort Asperula cynanchica amongst the many abundant herbs. Rarer plants in these areas include the nationally scarce bastard-toadflax Thesium humifusum and the local pale fl…

Maulden Church Meadow

…variety of herbs including burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, lady’s bedstraw Galium verum and common knapweed Centaurea nigra. Elsewhere the grassland community is less herb rich and dominated by grasses includi…

Finemere Wood

…meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, ragged-robin Silene flos-cuculi, marsh thistle Cirsium palustre and greater bird's foot trefoil Lotus pedunculatus. Further species occur on the drier gravel of the rides themselves including wild strawberry Fragaria vesca and trailing tormentil P…

Barnhamcross Common

…f contains a great variety of small flowering plants including stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, purging flax Linum catharticum, quaking grass Briza media, rest-harrow Ononis repens and kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria. Acidic grass heath i…

Cleeve Hill

…ained with this field include yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, lesser centaury Centaurium pulchellum which is of restricted distribution in Somerset and carline thistle Carlina vulgaris. The remainder of the site has been planted with a mixture of…

Great Cheverell Hill

…diversity and high cover. Bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and hoary plantain Plantago media are amongst the most widespread. Spring sedge Carex caryophyllea and glaucous sedge Carex flacca are also common. O…

Bude Coast

…ommon in the county such as adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. The scrub comprises European gorse Ulex europaeus and bramble Rubus fruticosus. The edges of some of the scrub patches provide a habitat for ho…

Coombe Hill

… community are present such as salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and wild thyme Thymus praecox. Other more locally restricted lime loving plants occur such as betony Beton…

Hartslock

… vetch Hippocrepis comosa, rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule as well as a notable abundance of uncommon plants like bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. The downy fruited sedge Carex filiformis occurs here in o…

Otford to Shoreham Downs

…tain Plantago lanceolata, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, quaking grass Briza media and devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis. Two nationally scarce *1 plants are found growing here, man orchid Acerus anthropophorum and chalk milkwort Polyg…

Tolethorpe Road Verges

…s. They are rich in typical calcareous grassland herbs such as stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, spiny rest-harrow Ononis spinosa, marjoram Origanum vulgare and small scabious Scabiosa columbaria. There are good populations of pyramidal o…

Friar's Oven

…abundant, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, cowslip Primula veris, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, lady's bedstraw Galium verum, common bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, common milkwort Polygala vulgaris, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensi…

Soham Wet Horse Fen

…ncluding cowslip Primula veris, milkwort Polygala vulgaris and stemless thistle Cirsium acaule. A number of uncommon plants are to be found on the site and the wet pastures are favoured as breeding areas for snipe Gallinago gallinago. Hedgerows are an additional feature of value …

Long Dale & Gratton Dale

…ably through the abundance of the characteristic chalk species stemless thistle Cirsium acaule and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris. There is a wide range of grassland, from that characterised by meadow oat and carnation sedge through less calcareous types to an acidic heath grassla…

Birch Spinney and Mawsley Marsh

…w oat grass Trisetum flavescens, harebell Campanula rotundifolia, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba. There are several damp flushes on the slopes which enhance the botanical interest and numerous ant hills. Along the waterlogged valley floor there…

Kingerby Beck Meadows

…acca, lady's bedstraw Galium verum, fairy flax Linum catharticum, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and pignut Conopodium majus occur. In the southern most field, the soil tends to be heavier, supporting herbs such as meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis,…

Wortham Ling

…scabious Succisa pratensis, purging flax Linum catharticum and stemless thistle Cirsium acaule. The site is fringed with mixed scrub and clumps of European gorse Ulex europaeus occur throughout. The site supports a good population of the grayling Hipparchia semele, a characteris…

New Buckenham Common

… calcicoles are present including large thyme Thymus pulegioides, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, hoary plantain Plantago media and lady’s bedstraw Galium verum. Acidic grassland has developed on free draining soils in an area of old sand pits. Sheep’s fescue is dominant with frequ…

Botley Down

…ake up a high proportion of the turf, with cowslip Primula veris, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, lady's bedstraw Galium verum and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba notably abundant. There are areas of short turf on the mid slope where chalk milk…

Swallow Wold

…n the short turf of sheep's fescue Festuca ovina together with stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, harebell Campanula rotundifolia and quaking grass Briza media. One south facing slope is remarkable for the quan…

Fayland Chalk Bank

… and Anacamptis pyramidalis, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, fairy flax Linum catharticum, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, marjoram Origanum vulgare and glaucous sedge Carex flacca. Many plants which occur are strongly associated with calcare…

Thompson Water, Carr and Common

…hoxanthum odoratum dominate a herb rich turf with species such as dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common quaking grass Briza media, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, hoary plantain Plantago media and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris. To the west several fields of unimproved neutral g…

Monkswood Valley

…especially diverse with the following species common throughout – dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, cowslip Primula veris, lady's bedstraw Galium verum, common rose Helianthemum nummularium. mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, cat's ear Hypochaeris radicata, early purple orchid…

Hollingbourne Downs

…e vetch Hippocrepis comosa, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule. Less common plants which occur include chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and, in an old chalk pit, musk orchid and man orchid. In a chalk quarry, whitebeam and yew scrub has developed …

Gotham Hill Pasture

…plant community which includes salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and thyme Thymus polytrichus. A similar sward occurs in the south east of the site on an area of gypsum spoil where the plant community contains a…

Alpine Meadow

… hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, fairy flax Linum catharticum and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule. The grassland contains abundant orchids, the most frequent species being common twayblade Neottia ovata and common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. Less common are fragrant orchid …

Little Grubbins Meadow

… scabious Scabiosa columbaria, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and lady's bedstraw Galium verum widespread. Grassland overlies ridge and furrow on the flatter areas, presumably on deeper soils. The ridge and furrow probably dates from the 19th cent…

Wormsley Chalk Banks

…r with a predominance of low growing herbs including dwarf and carline thistles Cirsium acaule and Carlina vulgaris, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, together with the locally rare fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, crested hair grass Koeleria macranthand wild candytuft Iber…

High Barn, Oxcombe

…nce of wild thyme Thymus praecox, basil thyme Acinos arvensis, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis and common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. Amongst the typical chalk grassland plants frequent over the whole site are greater knapweed Cen…

Holywell Banks

…port several species of moss. Typical limestone plants such as stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, eyebright Euphrasia agg., autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, rest-harrow Ononis repens, lady's bedstraw Galium verum and spring sedge Carex caryophyllea occur here. The disused limes…

Tickencote Marsh

…s of the marsh support species such as quaking grass Briza media, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and lady's bedstraw Galium verum, which are characteristic of calcareous loam pastures. The old millstream and other drainage channels contain a good range of emergent plants including…

Alderford Common

…basil Clinopodium vulgare, burnet saxifrade Pimpinella saxifraga, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, larger wild thyme Thymus pulegioides, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris and common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. Damp hollows, on low lying ground, have a characteristic flora which…

Tilwick Meadow

…d Anacamptis pyramidalis and fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris. A number of woodland relic species are also found, indicating a very close association with woodland at some time in the past. These include early pur…

Narborough Railway Embankment

…in many areas, with frequent carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, hairy rock cress Arabis hirsuta, purging flax Linum catharticum and larger wild thyme Thymus pulegioides. Autumn felwort Gentianella amarella is also fairly frequent and wild marjoram …

Park Wood, Chilham

…ower Campanula trachelium and the characteristic downland species dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa. Many of the woodland shrub species are also present, together with spindle Euonymus europaeus, dogwood…

Ryhall Pasture and Little Warren Verges

…lflower Campanula glomerata, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, cowslip Primula veris and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba. The adjoining roadside verge also exhibits a rich calcareous flora characterised by the abundance of knapweed Centaurea ni…

Portsmouth Harbour

…etch Anthyllis vulneraria, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and the nationally scarce species yellow vetch Vicia lutea, tuberous pea Lathyrus tuberosus and yellow vetchling …

Odstock Down

… soils are plentiful including salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, fairy flax Linum catharticum and hoary plantain Plantago media. Several more uncommon species characteristic of high quality chalk grassland are frequent such as horseshoe vetch Hippoc…

Cefn Onn

… rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, wild thyme Thymus polytrichus, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, spring sedge Carex caryophyllea, fairy flax Linum catharticum, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella and mouse-ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum. The frog orchid population here is the …

Broadway Hill

…ants which favour the close grazed sward. Typical of these are stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, thyme Thymus praecox, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and small scabious Scabiosa columbaria. Of particular interest is the presence of cluster…

Lindrick Golf Course

…ime loving plants as the carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, the stemless thistle Cirsium acaule on the northern limit of its range, small scabious Scabiosacolumbaria, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, common centaury Centaurium erythraea and …

Morgan's Hill

…ty of herbs typical of the Wiltshire Chalk to flourish, including dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. Species of nationally restricted di…

Sudborough Green Lodge Meadows

…cal differences. Upright brome, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and sedge Carex flacca are locally abundant. Among the more notable species are fairy flax Linum catharticum, green winged orchid Anacamptis morio, adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum,…

Strawberry Banks

…. Herbs typical of this plant community are present, including stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and wild thyme Thymus praecox. Many more locally restricted lime loving plants such as betony Betonica officinalis, sainfoin Onobrychis viciif…

Draycote Meadows

…ychium lunaria here at its only known locality in the county with dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus. Seventeen species of butterfly have been recorded including small skipper Thymelicus sylvestris, large skipper O…

Streatley Warren

…de glaucous sedge Carex flacca, hoary plantain Plantago media, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, wild thyme Thymus praecox and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. Other specie…

Tudor Farm Bank

…mine thistle Carlina vulgaris, common milkwort Polygala vulgaris, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, fairy flax Linum catharticum, wild thyme Thymus praecox and its uncommon relative, large thyme Thymus polytrichus. The presence of abundant thyme an…

Southorpe Roughs

…istic herbs include common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule. Of particular note is the presence of the nationally rare spotted cat’s ear Hypochaeris maculata and the pasque flower Pulsatilla vulgaris. Additional areas of scrub and tall herb enha…

Totternhoe Knolls

…ellflower Campanula glomerata, sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia and dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule. Orchid species are well represented, including common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, bee orchid Ophrys apifera, twayblade Neottia ovata and several county rarities. Characteristi…

Walton Common

…rnal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, glaucous sedge Carex flacca, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule and lady’s bedstraw Galium verum. Mesotrophic drift soils occur in certain areas characterised by false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius grading into bramble Rubus fruticosus. Scrub has …

Rye Harbour

…'s cress Teesdalia nudicaulis, upright chickweed Moenchia erecta, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and bearded fescue grass. Around the gravel pits there are areas of rougher grassland, these are dominated by cock's foot Dactylis glomerata and have belts of hawthorn Crataegus monogyn…

Silbury Hill

…rf are also present including horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, harebell Campanula rotundifolia, quaking grass Briza media and red fescue Festuca rubra. Other characteristic chalk downland plants occurrin…

Cheddar Wood

…ea and glaucous sedge Carex flacca are abundant and herbs include dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and wild thyme Thymus praecox. Heath species such as heather Calluna vulgaris, bell heather Erica cinerea and w…

Ballidon Dale

…terised by a herb rich sward high in lime loving species, with stemless thistle Cirsium acaule a plant at the northern edge of its British distribution in the Peak District found throughout. This community contains herbs such as the locally uncommon kidney vetch Anthyllis vulnera…

Halling to Trottiscliffe Escarpment

… which are characteristic of unimproved downland. Among these are dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and several species of orchid including the scarce musk orchid Herminium …

Blow's Down

…ey vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and wild thyme Thymus polytrichus. The grassland of the north west esc…

Mid Colne Valley

…abundant. Among these grasses typical chalk herbs occur including dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, fairy flax Linum catharticum and cowslip Primula veris. The Down is also one of the few remaining sites in North London for pyramidal orchid Anacampti…

Magpie Bottom

…. Associated herbs include characteristic downland plants such as dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica and horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa. Seven orchid species occur in the grassland, particularly in the no…

Draycott Sleights

…rass and crested hair grass also occur. Herbs of interest include dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, purging flax Linum catharticum, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and burnet saxifrade Pimpinella saxifraga. green winged orchid Anacamptis morio is…

Bozeat Meadow

…us, downy oat grass Avenula pubescens, quaking grass Briza media. dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, cowslip Primula veris, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus and burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga. A false oat grass community type occurs in the associated furrows with false oat gras…

Frilford Heath, Ponds and Fens

… species such as common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and stemless thistle Cirsium acaule occur in the lime rich areas. The open sward contains many uncommon plants, some of which are represented here in their sole Oxfordshire locality, whereas sand pits and field boundaries…

Pentridge Down

…t in the overtopping sward and include primrose Primula vulgaris, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and hoary plantain Plantago media. This community is very scarce in Dorset, being restricted to two sites in the county. A diverse chalk scrub is locally prominent containing buckthorn …

Bishop's Hill Wood

… burnet Poterium sanguisorba, fairy flax Linum catharticum and stemless thistle Cirsium acaule. The grasslands grade into marshy ground alongside the streams, where the flora includes marsh marigold Caltha palustris, brooklime Veronica beccabunga, marsh ragwort Senecio aquaticus …

Grangelands & Pulpit Hill

… and contains large quantities of glaucous sedge Carex flacca, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule and purging flax Linum catharticum, as well as horseshoe and kidney vetches Hippocrepis comosa and Anthyllis vulneraria, common centaury Centaurium erythraea, yellow wort Blackstonia pe…

Court Farm, Sydling

… hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, hoary plantain Plantago media and stemless thistle Cirsium acaule generally distributed. Leguminous herbs are particularly abundant on south facing slopes and include bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, horseshoe…

King's Cliffe Banks

…is community are present. Of these, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and wild thyme Thymus praecox are particularly frequent. There is…

Wadenhoe Marsh and Achurch Meadow

…pes bordering the marsh have relic herbs of limestone soils, e.g. dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and numerous ant hills. The meadow sward shows three plant community types and the shallow ditches, drains and river margins provide additional botanical interest. The most species rich…

Bratton Downs

…h as glaucous sedge Carex flacca spring sedge Carex caryophyllea, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifrag and devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis. A number of species that occur at Bratton are typically associated w…

Win Green Down

… burnet Poterium sanguisorba, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum. Glaucous and spring sedge Carex flacca and Carex caryophyllea occur frequently, whilst cowslip Primula veris is abundant in places. Thyme T…

Croker's Hole

… unimproved grassland such as small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, wild thyme Thymus praecox, bastard toadflax, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, horseshoe and kidney vetches H…

Ancaster Valley

… Astragalus danicus, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria, field gentian Gentianella campestris, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, …

Broomhill Burrows

…tland spurge Euphorbia portlandica occur. The only known clump of dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule in west Wales grows in Kilpaison Burrows.Notable lichens include Parmotrema crinitum on sheltered Old Red Sandstone rocks in a small valley at the north-western edge of the site. Telosc…

Congrove Field and The Tumps

… Carex caryophyllea are also present. The sward is herb rich with dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild thyme Thymus praecox, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, rest-harrow Ononis repens and small scabious Scabiosa …

Salt Way, Ditchley

…se Helianthemum nummularium, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild carrot Daucus carota, field scabious Knautia arvensis and hairy violet Violet hirta. There are also records of rare cornfield weeds such as round leaved fluellen Kickxia elatine a…

Homefield Wood

…mmularium, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, dwarf and carline thistles Cirsium acaule and Carlina vulgaris, blue fleabane Erigeron acris, ploughman's spikenard Inula conyza, black and greater knapweeds Centaurea nigra and C. scabiosa, twayblade Neottia ovata and common s…

Orston Plaster Pits

…oterium sanguisorba, twayblade Neottia ovata, Lotus corniculatus, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild parsnip Pastinaca sativa and bee orchid Ophrys apifera. To the north west lie a number of water filled clay pits which vary in character but typically possess emergent stands of b…

Wouldham to Detling Escarpment

…and Festuca ovina, with low growing broadleaved plants such as stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, fairy flax Linum catharticum, bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus, wild thyme Thymus praecox and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba. Most of the grassland is taller, dominated by upr…

Lakenheath Warren

…ilk vetch Astragalus danicus, hairy rock cress Arabis hirsuta, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule and quaking grass Briza media are evident. The neutral and acidic grasslands constitute the main grassy components of the Warren. Grasses grow more vigorously here. There is a reduction…

Clipsham Old Quarry and Pickworth Great Wood

…stifolia. A good range of lime loving herbs are present including dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, marjoram Origanum vulgare, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsi…

Hog's Hole

…ep's fescue Festuca ovina, meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule and squinancywort Asperula cynanchica. The other principal grasses comprise red fescue Festuca rubra, quaking grass Briza media, crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha, hairy oat grass A…

Helmdon Disused Railway

…us erectus grassland supporting a wide variety of herbs including dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, bee orchid Ophrys apifera and green winged orchid Anacamptis mori…

Puckham Woods

… are present including common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild thyme Thymus praecoxand salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba. Several orchid species are found here, namely pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, bee orchid Ophrys apifera and gre…

Castlemorton Common

…e evident such as mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum and stemless thistle Cirsium acaule. Small areas of semi improved grassland occur alongside the road. In the grassland there are many active ant hills, especially in the drier areas. These provide a valuable food source f…

Bracknell Croft

…is are particularly abundant. Horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and glaucous sedge Carex flaccare also widespread. Part of the site has been heavily grazed and has a very short sward dominated by red fescue Festuca rubra and sheep's fescue Festuca o…

Camp Down

…frequent. A high proportion of the turf is made up of herbs, with dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba widespread. Both common and chalk …

Calstone and Cherhill Downs

…a viridis all frequent. Also of interest is the unusual hybrid tuberous thistle Cirsium tuberosum x acaule. Scattered scrub, largely dominated by hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, along with occasional gorse Ulex europaeus, buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica and wayfaring tree Viburnum lant…

Stockton Wood and Down

…integrifolius are recorded and there is a colony of the hybrid tuberous thistle Cirsium tuberosum x acaule. Invertebrates present on the grassland include the scarce bug Canthophorus impressus and the Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina, dingy skipper Erynnis tages and brown argus …

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