Hembury Woods
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SX722684 | — | Favourable | 28.07 | 2009-07-28 |
| SX728686 | — | Favourable | 95.83 | 2009-07-23 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous, Devonian
Description
Hembury Woods SSSI Description The site includes good examples of semi-natural oak woodland and is representative of oak-woods developed on soils derived from the rocks of western and northern Britain. Also included are examples of valley alder wood and unimproved heathy grassland. It is an important entomological site. Hembury Woods lies on the slopes and the intervening plateau of two valleys cut by the River Dart and its tributary the Holy Brook. Soils are derived from the shales, slates and grits of the upper Devonian and Carboniferous Culm Measures. The site has an altitudinal range of from 60–178 metres. The majority of the woodland is dominated by pedunculate oak Quercus robur, with silver birch Betula pendula also present. The understorey comprises mainly common gorse Ulex europaeus, holly Ilex aquifolium and locally, hazel Corylus avellana, with a vigorous development of woody climbers and ramblers, notably ivy Hedera helix, honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum and bramble Rubus fruticosus. The ground vegetation is characterised by the abundance of bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, great woodrush Luzula sylvatica, wood sage Teucrium scorodonia, bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and common cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense and also by the presence of climbing corydalis Corydalis claviculata. Adjacent to the River Dart a strip of valley alder wood occurs and here oak again dominates but alder Alnus glutinosa is common and there is a rich ground flora which includes wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides, primrose Primula vulgaris, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, ramsons Allium ursinum and an abundance of wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus. The royal fern Osmunda regalis occurs locally. The trunks and branches of the trees and shrubs support a diverse lichen flora. A lichen of restricted occurrence, Phlyctis agelaea, occurs on beech Fagus sylvatica, with Pannari sampaiana, a lichen of very rare occurrence in England, also recorded. Other habitats present include scrub, heath, bracken and herb-rich heathy pasture. The pasture is dominated by bristle bent Agrostis curtisii and the sward is also characterised by the abundance of heath-grass Danthonia decumbens, carnation sedge Carex panicea, pill sedge Carex pilulifera, autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis, fairy flax Linum catharticum and tormentil Potentilla erecta and by the presence of carline thistle Carlina vulgaris and wild thyme Thymus polytrichus. Shrubs such as gorse and bell heather Erica cinerea, also occur. The variety of habitats supports a rich invertebrate fauna and the site is an important entomological locality. Of additional interest are two mining adits adjacent to the River Dart which are used as winter roosts by small numbers of greater horseshoe and lesser horseshoe bats Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Rhinolophus hipposideros.
Species mentioned
Show the 36 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.
Common oak Quercus 19
Birch Betula 15
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | any Betula |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | any Betula |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | any Betula |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | any Betula |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | any Betula |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | any Betula |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Betula pendula |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | any Betula |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | any Betula |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | any Betula |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | any Betula |
| White prominent Leucodonta bicoloria |
Regionally Extinct | any Betula |
Billberry Vaccinium myrtillus 10
| Speckled footman Coscinia cribraria |
Critically Endangered | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| The Silurian Eriopygodes imbecilla |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Scotch burnet Zygaena exulans |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
Hazel Corylus avellana 7
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Corylus avellana |
Bell heather Erica cinerea 6
| Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima |
Endangered | Erica cinerea |
| True lover's knot Lycophotia porphyrea |
Vulnerable | Erica cinerea |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Erica cinerea |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Erica cinerea |
| Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria |
Near Threatened | Erica cinerea |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Erica cinerea |
Alder Alnus glutinosa 5
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Alnus glutinosa |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Alnus glutinosa |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa |
Bramble Rubus fruticosus 5
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Rubus fruticosus |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
Bristle bent Agrostis 4
| Speckled footman Coscinia cribraria |
Critically Endangered | Agrostis curtisii |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Agrostis curtisii |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | any Agrostis |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | any Agrostis |
Beech Fagus sylvatica 4
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Fagus sylvatica |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Fagus sylvatica |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Fagus sylvatica |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Fagus sylvatica |
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum 3
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum |
| White admiral Limenitis camilla |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum |
Gorse Ulex 2
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | any Ulex |
| Lead belle Scotopteryx mucronata |
Vulnerable | Ulex europaeus |
Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta 1
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Hyacinthoides non-scripta |
Fairy flax Linum catharticum 1
| Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria |
Endangered | Linum catharticum |
Common cowwheat Melampyrum pratense 1
| Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia |
Endangered | Melampyrum pratense |
Tormentil Potentilla erecta 1
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Potentilla erecta |
Primrose Primula vulgaris 1
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula vulgaris |
Wood sage Teucrium scorodonia 1
| Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia |
Endangered | Teucrium scorodonia |
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 11 species from the description above: Allium ursinum, Anemone nemorosa, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Hedera helix, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Ilex aquifolium, Lonicera periclymenum, Quercus robur, Teucrium scorodonia
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
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Matches 9 species from the description above: Anemone nemorosa, Fagus sylvatica, Hedera helix, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Lonicera periclymenum, Potentilla erecta, Quercus robur, Teucrium scorodonia, Ulex europaeus
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 6 species from the description above: Corylus avellana, Hedera helix, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Lonicera periclymenum, Teucrium scorodonia, Ulex europaeus
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
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Matches 3 species from the description above: Anemone nemorosa, Luzula sylvatica, Vaccinium myrtillus
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
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina
A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans
A18 — Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus fluitans community
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa