Wilsford & Rauceby Warrens

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.9767, -0.4776

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Lincolnshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (3)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TF023432 Unfavourable Recovering 48.16 2013-08-27
TF030434 Unfavourable Recovering 48.16 2013-08-27
TF031438 Unfavourable Recovering 9.24 2013-08-27

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Limestone

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Description Wilsford and Rauceby Warrens comprise the most extensive remaining areas of limestone grass heath in South Lincolnshire. This nationally scarce habitat type once occurred on sands and gravels overlying the limestone, especially in the valley east of Ancaster Gap, but has virtually all now been converted to arable. At Wilsford and Rauceby, variation in the thickness of these glacial melt water deposits gives rise to a mosaic of dry lime rich and lime poor soils with a correspondingly high botanical diversity. The site's rich flora is best seen around the margins of the old sand pits in Rauceby Warren and on the roughs of the adjacent golf course. A large population of a nationally rare plant occurs. great crested newts breed in one of the old water filled workings. Upright brome Bromus erectus, tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum, meadow oat Avenula pratensis and false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius locally dominate the areas of taller grassland. Herbs commonly found in this sward are harebell Campanula rotundifolia, purple milk vetch Astragalus danicus, lady's bedstraw Galium verum, rest-harrow Ononis repens and the uncommon dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria. Other members of the pea family present characterise open sandy areas; these include bird's foot Ornithopus perpusillus and haresfoot, rough and knotted clovers Trifolium arvense, T. scabrum and Trifolium striatum. Associated plants and buckshorn plantain Plantago coronopus, sheeps sorrel Rumex acetosella and fine leaved sandwort Minuartia hybrida. Wilsford Warren is one of the few inland county localities for sand sedge Carex arenaria. Bee orchid Ophrys apifera and hoary cinquefoil Potentilla argentea also occur. In complete contrast to the tall sward are areas of short springy rabbit grazed turf where there is a compact growth of many plants, typically mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, common cat's ear Hypochaeris radicata, field mouse ear Cerastium arvense and field wood rush Luzula campestris. There is an abundance of Caledonia species of lichen and local dominance of the mosses Polytrichum juniperinum and Dicranum scoparium. A different habitat is afforded by areas of gorse Ulex europaeus, broom Cytisus scoparius and willow Salix spp. scrub whilst the stream bisecting the site adds a wetland element to the flora.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius LC grass poaceae
meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum LC grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
purple milk vetch Astragalus danicus EN herb fabaceae
harebell Campanula rotundifolia LC herb campanulaceae
common mouse-ear Cerastium arvense EN herb carophyllaceae
lady's bedstraw Galium verum LC herb rubiaceae
dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria LC herb fabaceae
cat's-ear Hypochaeris radicata LC herb asteraceae
fine leaved sandwort Minuartia hybrida Not listed in GB list herb carophyllaceae
common rest-harrow Ononis repens VU herb fabaceae
bee orchid Ophrys apifera LC herb orchidaceae
bird's foot Ornithopus perpusillus LC herb fabaceae
mouse_ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum LC herb asteraceae
buck's-horn plantain Plantago coronopus LC herb plantaginaceae
hoary cinquefoil Potentilla argentea LC herb rosaceae
sheep's sorrel Rumex acetosella NT herb polygonaceae
hare's foot clover Trifolium arvense VU herb fabaceae
knotted clover Trifolium striatum LC herb fabaceae
broom fork moss Dicranum scoparium LC moss dicranales
juniper hair cap Polytrichum juniperinum LC moss polytrichales
field wood rush Luzula campestris LC rush juncaceae
sand sedge Carex arenaria LC sedge cyperaceae
broom Cytisus scoparius LC shrub fabaceae
gorse Ulex europaeus LC shrub leguminosae

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus 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

Isolepis 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

Berula 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

Fontinalis 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

OV3 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed less fertile acid, Pond ditch and canal

Papaver rhoeas-Viola arvensis community

Bryum erythrocarpum, Phascum cuspidatum, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Anthemis arvensis, Artemisia vulgaris, Cirsium arvense, Eupatorium cannabinum, Matricaria discoidea, Pulicaria dysenterica, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Anchusa arvensis, Myosotis arvensis, Arabidopsis thaliana, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Descurainia sophia, Sisymbrium officinale, Valerianella locusta, Arenaria leptoclados, Arenaria serpyllifolia, Silene latifolia, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media agg., Chenopodium album, Convolvulus arvensis, Medicago lupulina, Trifolium repens, Vicia sativa, Geranium dissectum, Epilobium hirsutum, Papaver argemone, Papaver dubium, Veronica arvensis, Veronica persica, Veronica triphyllos, Fallopia convolvulus, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex crispus, Anagallis arvensis, Aphanes microcarpa, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola arvensis, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia repens, Poa annua, Poa trivialis, Chara vulgaris

OV4 — Arable

Chrysanthemum segetum-Spergula arvensis community

Bryum rubens, Daucus carota, Artemisia vulgaris, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Crepis capillaris, Filaginella uliginosa, Glebionis segetum, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus asper, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Anchusa arvensis, Myosotis arvensis, Brassica rapa, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lepidium didymum, Raphanus raphanistrum, Cerastium fontanum, Cerastium glomeratum, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media agg., Euphorbia helioscopia, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium repens, Vicia sativa, Fumaria muralis, Geranium dissectum, Galeopsis tetrahit, Lamium purpureum, Stachys arvensis, Plantago major, Veronica agrestis, Veronica arvensis, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex acetosella, Rumex crispus, Anagallis arvensis, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla anserina, Misopates orontium, Solanum nigrum, Viola arvensis, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Poa annua, Poa trivialis

OV7 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed fertile loam and clay

Veronica persica-Veronica polita community

Aethusa cynapium, Cirsium arvense, Conyza canadensis, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Diplotaxis muralis, Erucastrum gallicum, Lepidium coronopus, Sisymbrium officinale, Thlaspi arvense, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex patula, Atriplex prostrata, Chenopodium album, Euphorbia helioscopia, Euphorbia peplus, Lamium amplexicaule, Lamium hybridum, Lamium purpureum, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Veronica persica, Veronica polita, Fallopia convolvulus, Polygonum aviculare, Anagallis arvensis, Ranunculus repens, Galium aparine, Solanum nigrum, Urtica urens, Viola arvensis, Agrostis stolonifera, Avena fatua, Elytrigia repens, Poa annua, Aphanes arvensis, Chara vulgaris

OV8 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed fertile loam and clay

Veronica persica-Alopecurus myosuroides community

Aethusa cynapium, Anthemis cotula, Cirsium arvense, Lapsana communis, Matricaria chamomilla, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus arvensis, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lepidium coronopus, Sinapis arvensis, Sisymbrium officinale, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex patula, Atriplex prostrata, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium hybridum, Convolvulus arvensis, Euphorbia helioscopia, Euphorbia peplus, Trifolium repens, Geranium dissectum, Lamium purpureum, Plantago major, Veronica persica, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex crispus, Galium aparine, Solanum nigrum, Urtica dioica, Urtica urens, Alopecurus myosuroides, Avena fatua, Elytrigia repens, Poa annua, Chara vulgaris

OV9 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed fertile loam and clay

Matricaria perforata-Stellaria media community

Juncus bufonius, Bryum rubens, Dicranella staphylina, Kindbergia praelonga, Barbula unguiculata, Phascum cuspidatum, Tortula intermedia, Riccia sorocarpa, Artemisia vulgaris, Cirsium arvense, Crepis capillaris, Filaginella uliginosa, Glebionis segetum, Lapsana communis, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus arvensis, Sonchus asper, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum maritimum, Tussilago farfara, Anchusa arvensis, Myosotis arvensis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Raphanus raphanistrum, Sisymbrium officinale, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex patula, Atriplex prostrata, Chenopodium album, Equisetum arvense, Mercurialis annua, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Fumaria officinalis, Geranium molle, Galeopsis tetrahit, Lamium hybridum, Lamium purpureum, Chamerion angustifolium, Epilobium montanum, Papaver dubium, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Veronica arvensis, Veronica persica, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum arenastrum, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex acetosella, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Anagallis arvensis, Ranunculus arvensis, Potentilla anserina, Sherardia arvensis, Misopates orontium, Solanum nigrum, Urtica dioica, Viola arvensis, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Hordeum vulgare, Lolium perenne, Poa annua, Poa trivialis, Aphanes arvensis, Chara vulgaris

OV10 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed fertile loam and clay

Poa annua-Senecio vulgaris community

Bryum argenteum, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Anthemis cotula, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Jacobaea vulgaris, Lapsana communis, Leucanthemum vulgare, Matricaria chamomilla, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio squalidus, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Tussilago farfara, Myosotis arvensis, Alliaria petiolata, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Erophila verna, Lepidium coronopus, Raphanus raphanistrum, Sinapis arvensis, Cerastium fontanum, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex prostrata, Chenopodium album, Euphorbia exigua, Euphorbia helioscopia, Medicago lupulina, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia sativa, Fumaria officinalis, Eriodium cicutarium, Lamium hybridum, Lamium purpureum, Chamerion angustifolium, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Plantago media, Veronica arvensis, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica persica, Veronica polita, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum arenastrum, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex acetosa, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Anagallis arvensis, Ranunculus repens, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Urtica urens, Viola arvensis, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anisantha sterilis, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Festuca ovina, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Aphanes arvensis

OV11 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed fertile loam and clay

Poa annua-Stachys arvensis community

Bryum erythrocarpum, Dicranella staphylina, Pleuridium subulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Tortula truncata, Daucus carota, Glebionis segetum, Matricaria discoidea, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio sylvaticus, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus arvensis, Sonchus asper, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lepidium didymum, Sinapis arvensis, Cerastium fontanum, Cerastium glomeratum, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex patula, Chenopodium album, Euphorbia exigua, Euphorbia helioscopia, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium repens, Fumaria bastardii, Fumaria muralis, Geranium dissectum, Lamium purpureum, Stachys arvensis, Kickxia elatine, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Veronica arvensis, Veronica persica, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum lapathifolium, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Anagallis arvensis, Ranunculus repens, Aphanes microcarpa, Potentilla anserina, Sherardia arvensis, Misopates orontium, Solanum nigrum, Viola arvensis, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa annua, Poa trivialis, Aphanes arvensis

OV13 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed fertile loam and clay

Stellaria media-Capsella bursa-pastoris community

Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus arvensis, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Tripleurospermum maritimum, Brassica napus, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lepidium coronopus, Sinapis arvensis, Sisymbrium officinale, Thlaspi arvense, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex patula, Atriplex prostrata, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium bonus-henricus, Chenopodium rubrum, Chenopodium urbicum, Calystegia sepium, Convolvulus arvensis, Euphorbia helioscopia, Euphorbia peplus, Mercurialis annua, Trifolium repens, Fumaria bastardii, Fumaria muralis, Geranium dissectum, Lamium album, Lamium hybridum, Lamium purpureum, Plantago major, Veronica agrestis, Veronica persica, Veronica polita, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum lapathifolium, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Galium aparine, Solanum nigrum, Urtica dioica, Urtica urens, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus myosuroides, Anisantha sterilis, Avena fatua, Elytrigia repens, Lolium perenne, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Chara vulgaris

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