Barton Hills
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL088297 | — | Favourable | 44.18 | 2023-02-01 |
| TL096295 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 3.68 | 2023-07-27 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Landscape processes: Karst
Description
Description Immediately south of Barton, the chalk escarpment forms a natural amphitheatre. At its head and along the eastern side, rising abruptly from the flat valley floor are steep sided, rounded hills still retaining an extensive cover of unimproved chalk grassland supporting many species of grasses and flowering plants. Opposite, on the western slope is a small ancient beech Fagus sylvatica wood and developing secondary woodland and scrub. The scrub includes abundant hazel Corylus avellana which is an unusual coloniser. Part of the grassland has been quarried for chalk in the past and this area has now recolonised with a rich variety of flowers. A spring rises near the head of the coombe feeding a chalk stream which runs along the valley floor and adding a wetland element to the outstanding flora of this site. Variations in aspect slope together with intensity of grazing in past management have produced a range of conditions from very short turf to long coarse grass. The long grassland is dominated by upright brome Bromus erectus and the shorter turf, with abundant sheep’s fescue Festica ovina. This structural diversity in the sward ensures its value for many groups of insects. 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 conopsea and bee orchid Ophrys apifera. The more uncommon plants present include woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum, field fleawort Senecio integrifolius, flea sedge Carex pulicaris and, on the south facing slopes, pasque flower Pulsatilla vulgaris. Ash Fraxinus excelsior occurs in the beech high forest over a shrub layer comprising hazel, spindle Euonymus europaeus, yew Taxus baccata and elder Sambucus nigra. Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa is locally common. Dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis completely carpets some areas of the woodland floor. Other species present are indicative of the site’s ancient nature, for instance herb paris Paris quadrifolia, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and nettle leaved bell flower Campanula trachelium. Under the densely shading beech, white helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium occurs.
Species mentioned
Show the 24 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
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
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
A16 — Chalk river and stream, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Callitriche stagnalis community
Show 7 indicator speciesCeratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Lemna minor, Callitriche obtusangula, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Potamogeton pectinatus
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
A19 — Chalk river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Nutrient rich eutrophic lake
Ranunculus aquatilis community
Show 16 indicator speciesFontinalis antipyretica, Apium nodiflorum, Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna gibba, Lemna trisulca, Callitriche obtusangula, Callitriche stagnalis, Polygonum amphibium, Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus aquatilis, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans
A20 — Chalk river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Pond ditch and canal
Ranunculus peltatus community
Show 16 indicator speciesSparganium erectum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Callitriche platycarpa, Polygonum amphibium, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus circinatus, Ranunculus peltatus, Ranunculus sceleratus, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Glyceria notata
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
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
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
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
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
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