King Lud's Entrenchment & The Drift

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.8412, -0.7233

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (6) Unfavourable No Change (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SK857300 Unfavourable Recovering 1.17 2013-09-30
SK860278 Unfavourable Recovering 0.97 2014-07-24
SK861280 Unfavourable Recovering 9.34 2014-07-24
SK864278 Unfavourable Recovering 2.4 2014-07-24
SK864291 Unfavourable Recovering 2.89 2013-09-30
SK867279 Unfavourable No Change 3.82 2022-12-22
SK871279 Unfavourable Recovering 3.31 2022-12-22

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Area,28.79 ha71.12 ac O Description The site includes some of the best remaining examples of limestone grassland in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire and is representative of swards developed on soft limestones in southern and central England. Biology The site contains some fine examples of limestone grassland. The basic sward components are tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum, cock's foot Dactylis glomerata, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus and red fescue Festuca rubra, while typical herbs include salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, field scabious Knautia arvensis, germander speedwell Veronica chamaedrys, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus and perforate St. John'swort Hypericum perforatum. Plants of restricted distribution which occur on the site include autumn felwort Gentianella amarella, basil thyme Acinos arvensis, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosand purple milk vetch Astragalus danicus. Additional interest is provided by an area of semi natural broad leaved woodland dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum LC grass poaceae
crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus LC grass poaceae
cock's foot Dactylis glomerata LC grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
basil thyme Acinos arvensis Not listed in GB list herb lamiaceae
purple milk vetch Astragalus danicus EN herb fabaceae
autumn gentian Gentianella amarella LC herb gentianaceae
perforated St John's wort Hypericum perforatum LC herb hypericaceae
field scabious Knautia arvensis LC herb caprifoliaceae
birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus LC herb fabaceae
burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga NT herb apiaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
birdseye speedwell Veronica chamaedrys LC herb plantaginaceae
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae