Cow Cliff Pasture and Quarry
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE856669 | — | Favourable | 1.03 | 2020-07-15 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Rock Type: Chalk
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Area, 1.34 hectares 3.31 ac Description Cow Cliff Pasture and Quarry is a small site consisting of unimproved chalk grassland below an area of cultivated ground and neighbouring disused chalk quarry. The site is important for an abundance of thistle broomrape Orobanche reticulata* which is associated with creeping thistle Cirsium arvense, musk thistle Carduus nutans and woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum. The broomrape plants occur most frequently in the cultivated areas. The unimproved grassland supports a species rich turf containing many typical chalk grassland species. These include clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum and thyme Thymus praecox. The site supports a colony of marbled whites Melanargia galatheaa, a species of butterfly that is at the northern edge of its natural range in the Yorkshire Wolds. Other Information * Orobanche reticulata is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.
Species mentioned
Show the 8 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| clustered bellflower | Campanula glomerata | VU | herb | campanulaceae |
| musk thistle | Carduus nutans | NT | herb | asteraceae |
| greater knapweed | Centaurea scabiosa | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| creeping thistle | Cirsium arvense | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| wooly thistle | Cirsium eriophorum | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| thistle broomrape | Orobanche reticulata | EN | herb | orobanchaceae |
| mouse_ear hawkweed | Pilosella officinarum | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| creeping thyme | Thymus praecox | Not listed in GB list | herb | lamiaceae |
Plant communities
CG10 — Brownfield, Limestone pavement, Upland calcareous grassland
Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Thymus praecox grassland
Show 129 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex caryophyllea, Carex demissa, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Selaginella selaginoides, Breutelia chrysocoma, Bryum pallens, Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum scoparium, Ditrichum flexicaule, Fissidens adianthoides, Fissidens osmundoides, Racomitrium canescens sens.lat., Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Tortella tortuosa, Frullania tamarisci, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cetraria islandica, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Achillea millefolium, Antennaria dioica, Bellis perennis, Cirsium palustre, Hieraclium spp., Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Pilosella officinarum, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Solidago virgaurea, Cardamine pratensis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Silene acaulis, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Lathyrus montanus, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens, Gentianella campestris, Hypericum pulchrum, Thymus praecox, Pinguicula vulgaris, Linum catharticum, Euphrasia confusa, Euphrasia officinalis, Euphrasia scottica, Oxalis acetosella, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago maritima, Veronica officinalis, Polygala serpyllifolia, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla filicaulis, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla wichurae, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Potentilla crantzii, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla sterilis, Rubus idaeus, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Galium sterneri, Galium verum, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pratensis, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Botrychium lunaria, Thelypteris limbosperma
MG1 — Brownfield, Hard cliff and cliff slope
Arrhenatherum elatius grassland
Show 102 indicator speciesHedera helix, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Aegopodium podagraria, Anthriscus sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Daucus carota, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella major, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Artemisia vulgaris, Carduus nutans, Centaurea nigra, Centaurea scabiosa, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Sonchus asper, Taraxacum officianalis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Campanula rotundifolia, Knautia arvensis, Scabiosa columbaria, Cerastium fontanum, Silene nutans, Stellaria graminea, Convolvulus arvensis, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sativa, Vicia sepium, Geranium dissectum, Hypericum perforatum, Clinopodium vulgare, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium album, Origanum vulgare, Teucrium scorodonia, Thymus praecox, Linum catharticum, Chamerion angustifolium, Epilobium hirsutum, Epipactis purpurata, Rhinanthus minor, Papaver dubium, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla reptans, Poterium sanguisorba, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium verum, Urtica dioica, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anisantha sterilis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Briza media, Bromopsis erecta, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Pteridium aquilinum, Chara vulgaris
MG2 — Brownfield
Arrhenatherum elatius-Filipendula ulmaria tall-herb grassland
Show 101 indicator speciesFraxinus excelsior, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Climacium dendroides, Eurhynchium striatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Oxyrrhynchium hians, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Sanionia uncinata, Thuidium tamariscinum, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Plagiochila asplenioides, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Peltigera horizontalis, Peltigera praetextata, Angelica sylvestris, Anthriscus sylvestris, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella major, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Myosotis arvensis, Cochlearia alpina, Draba muralis, Campanula rotundifolia, Scabiosa columbaria, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Parnassia palustris, Mercurialis perennis, Lathyrus pratensis, Vicia sepium, Geranium robertianum, Geranium sylvaticum, Hypericum hirsutum, Clinopodium vulgare, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Epilobium montanum, Oxalis acetosella, Veronica chamaedrys, Polemonium caeruleum, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Potentilla erecta, Rosa villosa, Sanguisorba officinalis, Cruciata laevipes, Galium aparine, Galium sterneri, Galium verum, Chrysosplenium alternifolium, Saxifraga hypnoides, Scrophularia nodosa, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Sesleria caerulea, Trisetum flavescens, Dryopteris filix-mas, Cystopteris fragilis, Chara curta
MG9 — Brownfield, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Mesotrophic grassland
Holcus lanatus-Deschampsia cespitosa grassland
Show 79 indicator speciesCarex hirta, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Cirsium vulgare, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leucanthemum vulgare, Pulicaria dysenterica, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Hypericum perforatum, Mentha aquatica, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Plantago lanceolata, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex sanguineus, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Urtica dioica, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Glyceria fluitans, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Hordeum secalinum, Lolium perenne, Phalaris arundinacea, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens
MG11 — Brownfield, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Hard cliff and cliff slope
Festuca rubra-Agrostis stolonifera-Potentilla anserina grassland
Show 64 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Carex arenaria, Carex distans, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bufonius, Juncus gerardii, Brachythecium rutabulum, Odontites verna, Oenanthe lachenalii, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Matricaria discoidea, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Sonchus asper, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum maritimum, Cochlearia anglica, Cochlearia officinalis, Cerastium fontanum, Honckenya peploides, Sagina procumbens, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex hastata, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Plantago maritima, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex acetosa, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Glaux maritima, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla reptans, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Ammophila arenaria, Arrhenatherum elatius, Bromus hordeaceous, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia juncea, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Parapholis strigosa, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis
MG13 — Brownfield, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh
Agrostis stolonifera-Alopecurus geniculatus grassland
Show 44 indicator speciesCarex panicea, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bufonius, Juncus effusus, Juncus gerardii, Ceratodon purpureus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Oenanthe fistulosa, Caltha palustris, Cirsium arvense, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Myosotis scorpioides, Valeriana dioica, Stellaria alsine, Stellaria neglecta, Atriplex hastata, Triglochin maritimum, Triglochin palustre, Mentha aquatica, Montia fontana, Polygonum hydropiper, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus repens, Ranunculus sceleratus, Potentilla anserina, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Bromus hordeaceous, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Glyceria declinata, Glyceria fluitans, Glyceria notata, Holcus lanatus, Poa annua, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Dryopteris expansa
U1 — Brownfield, Lowland dry acid grassland
Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Rumex acetosella grassland
Show 120 indicator speciesQuercus robur, Calluna vulgaris, Ulex europaeus, Ulex minor, Carex arenaria, Luzula campestris, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus introflexus, Ceratodon purpureus, Dicranum scoparium, Brachythecium albicans, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidium rugosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Syntrichia ruraliformis, Ptilidium ciliare, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia foliacea, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia tenuis, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Peltigera canina, Achillea millefolium, Filaginella uliginosa, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leontodon saxatilis, Logfia minima, Pilosella officinarum, Pilosella peleteriana, Senecio vulgaris, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis ramosissima, Arabidopsis thaliana, Arabis hirsuta, Erophila verna, Teesdalia nudicaulis, Campanula glomerata, Campanula rotundifolia, Arenaria serpyllifolia, Cerastium arvense, Cerastium fontanum, Sagina apetala, Sagina procumbens, Scleranthus perennis, Silene conica, Silene otites, Silene viscaria, Spergularia rubra, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria media agg., Crassula tillaea, Sedum acre, Sedum album, Sedum anglicum, Umbilicus rupestris, Anthyllis vulneraria, Astragalus danicus, Lotus corniculatus, Ornithopus perpusillus, Trifolium campestre, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium repens, Trifolium sp., Vicia sativa, Centaurium erythraea, Eriodium cicutarium, Geranium molle, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Thymus serpyllum, Chamerion angustifolium, Plantago coronopus, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica agrestis, Veronica arvensis, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica polita, Veronica spicata, Fallopia convolvulus, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Reseda lutea, Potentilla argentea, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Urtica dioica, Viola tricolor, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis vinealis, Aira praecox, Anisantha sterilis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Bromus hordeaceous, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Aphanes arvensis, Pteridium aquilinum
U2 — Brownfield, Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland
Deschampsia flexuosa grassland
Show 40 indicator speciesBetula pendula, Quercus hybrid, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex europaeus, Carex nigra, Eriophorum vaginatum, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus pyriformis, Dicranum scoparium, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum piliferum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Cladonia gracilis, Chamerion angustifolium, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Pteridium aquilinum
W6 — Brownfield, Wet woodland
Alnus glutinosa-Urtica dioica woodland
Show 87 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea, Salix fragilis, Salix viminalis, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Alnus glutinosa, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum opulus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Solanum dulcamara, Carex acutiformis, Carex paniculata, Carex riparia, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Lophocolea heterophylla, Humulus lupulus, Angelica sylvestris, Heracleum sphondylium, Oenanthe crocata, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Petasites hybridus, Taraxacum officianalis, Impatiens glandulifera, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria media agg., Equisetum arvense, Equisetum palustre, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris pseudacorus, Glechoma hederacea, Mentha aquatica, Stachys sylvatica, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Epilobium hirsutum, Epilobium montanum, Epilobium palustre, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica montana, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex sanguineus, Lysimachia vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, Urtica dioica, Agrostis stolonifera, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Athyrium filix-femina
W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub
Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Show 40 indicator speciesHedera helix, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Achillea millefolium, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Jasione montana, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Teucrium scorodonia, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Pteridium aquilinum