Odstock Down
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SU138249 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 12.82 | 2010-06-17 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Area, 12.l ha. 29.9 ac. Description Odstock Down is a floristically diverse area of chalk grassland typical of the South Western chalk. The turf is chiefly of the sheep's fescue meadow oat grass Festuca ovina Avenula pratensis community and contains a number of nationally rare plants. It extends for 1.5 kilometres along a moderate, predominantly west facing, slope of the Upper Chalk to the south of Salisbury. The regular grazing by both cattle and sheep has produced a sward rich in herbs, sedges and grasses. In addition to sheep's fescue and meadow oat grass, quaking grass Briza media and crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha are widespread and upright brome Bromus erectus is abundant in some areas. Glaucous sedge Carex flacca is a constant component of the turf while both spring sedge Carex caryophyllea and the nationally restricted dwarf sedge Carex humilis are less evenly distributed. Herbs constitute a large proportion of the vegetation and many species typical of unimproved chalk 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 Hippocrepis comosa, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis. Nationally restricted species include the low growing bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum and the diminutive burnt orchid Neotinea ustulata; the former is locally common on the down while the latter forms a large colony. Several other orchids are well represented including green winged orchid Anacamptis morio, pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis and fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea. Several hundred spikes of the late flowering autumn lady's tresses Spiranthes spiralis have been noted in recent years. Anthills are widely scattered over the slopes of the down. Species characteristic of these nest mounds include many with a trailing habit such as common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, wild thyme Thymus praecox and lady's bedstraw Galium verum occasionally growing with mouse ear hawkweed Hieraciumpilosella. The northern section of the down has a fine patchwork of scrub and grassland habitats, particularly on the lower slopes. hawthorn Crataegus monogyna predominates but a range of other shrubs is present including buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica, holly Ilex aquifolium, blackthorn Prunus spinosa and wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana. Amongst the commoner butterflies recorded are small heath Coenonympha pamphilus and common blue Polymmatus icarus. Also occurring is the rarer small blue Cupido minimus, whose larvae feed on kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria.
Species mentioned
Show the 33 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusInsects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
Grouped by host-plant — open a plant to see its insects. Some insects feed on more than one of these plants, so they appear under each.
Hawthorn Crataegus 16
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | any Crataegus |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | any Crataegus |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | any Crataegus |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | any Crataegus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | any Crataegus |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | any Crataegus |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | any Crataegus |
Blackthorn Prunus 15
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | any Prunus, Prunus spinosa |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | any Prunus, Prunus spinosa |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Prunus spinosa |
| Black hairstreak Satyrium pruni |
Endangered | Prunus spinosa |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | any Prunus, Prunus spinosa |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Prunus spinosa |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | any Prunus, Prunus spinosa |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Prunus spinosa |
| Brown hairstreak Thecla betulae |
Vulnerable | Prunus spinosa |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Prunus spinosa |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Prunus spinosa |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Prunus spinosa |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | any Prunus, Prunus spinosa |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Prunus spinosa |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Prunus spinosa |
Sheep's fescue Festuca 5
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca ovina |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | any Festuca |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
Lady's bedstraw Galium 5
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | any Galium |
| White-line dart Euxoa tritici |
Vulnerable | Galium verum |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | any Galium |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | any Galium |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | any Galium |
Rock roses Helianthemum nummularium 4
| Northern brown Aricia artaxerxes |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Silky wave Idaea dilutaria |
Near Threatened | Helianthemum nummularium |
Hoary plantain Plantago 4
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | any Plantago |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | any Plantago |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | any Plantago |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | any Plantago |
Glaucus sedge Carex flacca 2
| Least minor Photedes captiuncula |
Endangered | Carex flacca |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Carex flacca |
Horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa 2
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Hippocrepis comosa |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Hippocrepis comosa |
Salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba 2
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Poterium sanguisorba |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Poterium sanguisorba |
Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica 2
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Rhamnus cathartica |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Rhamnus cathartica |
Lady's fingers (kidney vetch) Anthyllis vulneraria 1
| Small blue Cupido minimus |
Near Threatened | Anthyllis vulneraria |
Fairy flax Linum catharticum 1
| Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria |
Endangered | Linum catharticum |
Devils-bit scabious Succisa pratensis 1
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Succisa pratensis |
Wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana 1
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Viburnum lantana |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
Plant communities
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Matches 6 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna, Ilex aquifolium, Poterium sanguisorba, Prunus spinosa, Rhamnus cathartica, Viburnum lantana
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Matches 4 species from the description above: Carex flacca, Festuca ovina, Succisa pratensis, Thymus praecox
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 1 species from the description above: Prunus spinosa
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas