Rough Bank, Miserden

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.7772, -2.1361

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO907087 Favourable 9.25 2024-01-18

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Area, 9.2 ha. 22.7 ac. Description The site has been selected as one of a series of Jurassic limestone grassland sites representing the best examples of this ancient herb rich pasture remaining in the Cotswolds. The grassland is characterised by an abundance of upright brome Bromus erectus, tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum and sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina with a range of lime loving calcicole plants such as autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, common calamint Clinopodium menthifolium, ploughman’s spikenard Inula conyza and rock rose Helianthemum nummularium. Of special note is the large amount of kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria. Orchid species are well represented and include fly orchid Ophrys insectifera, bee orchid Ophrys apifera, green winged orchid Anacamptis morio, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha. Large numbers of pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis provide an impressive display during the flowering season. The richness of the grassland is also reflected in the diversity of invertebrates found here. Butterflies include chalkhill blue Polyommatus coridon, small blue Cupido minimus, green hairstreak Callophrys rubi and marbled white Melanargia galatheaa. A large population of the snail Helicella itala is present and the ant Myrmica sabuleti and woodlouse Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii also occur. Old ant hills, hawthorn scrub and a small area of mixed deciduous woodland add to the diversity of the site. The woodland and scrub is of particular interest because it supports uncommon plants such as broad leaved helleborine Epipactis helleborine, white helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium, nettle leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium and columbine Aquilegia vulgaris.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
green hairstreak Callophrys rubi LC butterfly lycaenidae
small blue Cupido minimus NT butterfly lycaenidae
chalkhill blue Polyommatus coridon VU butterfly lycaenidae
woodlouse Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii LC crustacean platyarthridae
tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum LC grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
green-winged orchid Anacamptis morio NT herb orchidaceae
pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis LC herb orchidaceae
lady's fingers (kidney vetch) Anthyllis vulneraria NT herb fabaceae
columbine Aquilegia vulgaris LC herb ranunculaceae
clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata VU herb campanulaceae
nettle leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium LC herb campanulaceae
white helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium LC herb orchidaceae
wood calamint Clinopodium menthifolium VU herb lamiaceae
broad-leaved helleborine Epipactis helleborine DD herb orchidaceae
autumn gentian Gentianella amarella LC herb gentianaceae
fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea NT herb orchidaceae
rock roses Helianthemum nummularium VU herb cistaceae
ploughman's spikenard Inula conyza Not listed in GB list herb asteraceae
bee orchid Ophrys apifera LC herb orchidaceae
fly orchid Ophrys insectifera VU herb orchidaceae
greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha NT herb orchidaceae
heath snail Helicella itala LC snail hygromiidae

Plant communities

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Salix 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

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Hedera 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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Hedera 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