Haydon and Askerswell Downs
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SY537922 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 6.13 | 2012-07-09 |
| SY541933 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 11.72 | 2012-07-09 |
| SY544920 | — | Favourable | 9.98 | 2012-07-09 |
| SY545927 | — | Favourable | 11.37 | 2012-07-09 |
| SY545937 | — | Favourable | 5.81 | 2012-07-09 |
| SY546934 | — | Favourable | 5.65 | 2012-07-09 |
| SY548920 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 6.97 | 2012-07-09 |
| SY550928 | — | Favourable | 11.46 | 2012-07-09 |
| SY551933 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 23.24 | 2012-07-09 |
| SY553921 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 9.41 | 2012-07-09 |
| SY553925 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 5.65 | 2013-03-25 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Haydon and Askerswell SSSI Description An extensive area of steep chalk slopes with all aspects, presenting an especially good example of calcareous grassland at the western extremity of the chalk. Most of the site has a short well-grazed turf with sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, red fescue Festuca rubra and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba the most important constituents and containing many attractive chalk plants. These include squinancy-wort Asperula cynanchica, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and a number of species particularly associated with the Western Chalk such as rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, betony Betonica officinalis and devil’s-bit Succisa pratensis. Typical of chalk grassland in the west, there is not a great variety of orchids but common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii is very frequent and pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and bee orchid Ophrys apifera occur locally. The sheltered parts of the south-facing downs are especially favourable to butterflies including the very local Adonis blue Polyommatus bellargus and small blue Cupido minimus.
Species mentioned
Show the 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small blue | Cupido minimus | NT | butterfly | lycaenidae |
| Adonis blue | Polyommatus bellargus | VU | butterfly | lycaenidae |
| sheep's fescue | Festuca ovina | LC | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| pyramidal orchid | Anacamptis pyramidalis | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| squinancywort | Asperula cynanchica | VU | herb | rubiaceae |
| betony | Betonica officinalis | VU | herb | lamiaceae |
| clustered bellflower | Campanula glomerata | VU | herb | campanulaceae |
| spotted orchids | Dactylorhiza fuchsii | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| fragrant orchid | Gymnadenia conopsea | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| rough hawkbit | Leontodon hispidus | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| bee orchid | Ophrys apifera | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| salad burnet | Poterium sanguisorba | VU | herb | rosaceae |
| devils-bit scabious | Succisa pratensis | VU | herb | caprifoliaceae |
Plant communities
CG9 — Limestone pavement, Lowland calcareous grassland, Upland calcareous grassland
Sesleria albicans-Galium sterneri grassland
Show 107 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Carex capillaris, Carex caryophyllea, Carex eragrostis, Carex flacca, Carex hostiana, Carex panicea, Carex pulicaris, Kobresia simpliciuscula, Selaginella selaginoides, Rhodobryum roseum, Dicranum scoparium, Ditrichum flexicaule, Fissidens dubius, Encalypta streptocarpa, Racomitrium canescens sens.lat., Racomitrium lanuginosum, Ctenidium molluscum, Homalothecium lutescens, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Neckera crispa, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Rhytidium rugosum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Tortella tortuosa, Barbilophozia barbata, Blepharostoma trichophyllum, Frullania tamarisci, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Scapania aspera, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia pocillum, Cladonia rangiformis, Cornicularia aculeata, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Antennaria dioica, Bellis perennis, Carlina vulgaris, Cirsium vulgare, Leontodon hispidus, Pilosella officinarum, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis alpestris, Cochlearia alpina, Draba incana, Campanula rotundifolia, Scabiosa columbaria, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Minuartia verna, Parnassia palustris, Helianthemum oelandicum icanum, Sedum acre, Anthyllis vulneraria, Hippocrepis comosa, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens, Gentiana verna, Gentianella amarella, Hypericum pulchrum, Thymus praecox, Pinguicula vulgaris, Linum catharticum, Epipactis atrorubens, Euphrasia confusa, Euphrasia officinalis, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago maritima, Veronica officinalis, Polygala vulgaris, Polygonum viviparum, Primula farinosa, Primula vulgaris, Thalictrum minus, Dryas octopetala, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla tabernaemontani, Poterium sanguisorba, Asperula cynanchica, Galium sterneri, Galium verum, Saxifraga hypnoides, Viola hirta, Viola riviniana, Viola rupestris, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pratensis, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Koeleria macrantha, Molinia caerulea, Sesleria caerulea
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
CG11 — Upland calcareous grassland
Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Alchemilla alpina grass-heath
Show 115 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Salix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Juncus trifidus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula spicata, Luzula sylvatica, Diphasiastrum alpinum, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Breutelia chrysocoma, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium canescens sens.lat., Racomitrium lanuginosum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Pogonatum urnigerum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Barbilophozia lycopodioides, Diplophyllum albicans, Frullania tamarisci, Nardia scalaris, Ptilidium ciliare, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia uncialis, Peltigera canina, Achillea millefolium, Antennaria dioica, Gnaphalium supinum, Hieraclium spp., Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium alpinum, Cerastium fontanum, Minuartia sedoides, Silene acaulis, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Lathyrus montanus, Trifolium repens, Thymus praecox, Pinguicula vulgaris, Linum catharticum, Narthecium ossifragum, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Oxalis acetosella, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago maritima, Veronica officinalis, Veronica serpyllifolia, Armeria maritima, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla filicaulis, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Potentilla crantzii, Potentilla erecta, Sibbaldia procumbens, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Viola canina, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Botrychium lunaria, Thelypteris limbosperma
CG13 — Limestone pavement, Upland calcareous grassland
Dryas octopetala-Carex flacca heath
Show 95 indicator speciesSalix repens, Empetrum nigrum, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Juniperus communis, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Rubus saxatilis, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Carex pulicaris, Carex rupestris, Schoenus nigricans, Luzula campestris, Selaginella selaginoides, Breutelia chrysocoma, Dicranum scoparium, Ditrichum flexicaule, Fissidens dubius, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Ctenidium molluscum, Entodon concinnus, Homalothecium lutescens, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Neckera complanata, Neckera crispa, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Rhytidium rugosum, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Tortella tortuosa, Frullania tamarisci, Plagiochila asplenioides, Scapania undulata, Cladonia rangiformis, Solorina saccata, Daucus carota, Antennaria dioica, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Pilosella officinarum, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Solidago virgaurea, Taraxacum officianalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Anthyllis vulneraria, Lathyrus montanus, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Gentianella amarella, Hypericum pulchrum, Thymus praecox, Pinguicula vulgaris, Linum catharticum, Epipactis atrorubens, Neottia ovata, Orchis mascula, Euphrasia confusa, Euphrasia officinalis, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago maritima, Plantago media, Polygala serpyllifolia, Polygonum viviparum, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Dryas octopetala, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Saxifraga aizoides, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pratensis, Cynosurus cristatus, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca vivipara, Koeleria macrantha, Molinia caerulea, Polystichum aculeatum
U4 — Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland
Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Galium saxatile grassland
Show 82 indicator speciesCalluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex caryophyllea, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Lophocolea bidentata, Conopodium majus, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Taraxacum officianalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus montanus, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Thymus praecox, Euphrasia officinalis, Oxalis acetosella, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Polygala serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Viola lutea, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pratensis, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Lolium perenne, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Chara curta
U5 — Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland
Nardus stricta-Galium saxatile grassland
Show 79 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Sphagnum papillosum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia uncialis, Cirsium palustre, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum palustre, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Trifolium repens, Narthecium ossifragum, Plantago lanceolata, Polygala serpyllifolia, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Alchemilla alpina, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant