Cranwich Camp

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.5167, 0.6140

Also within

Norfolk County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TL774941 Unfavourable Recovering 13.1 2020-02-21

Habitats

Brownfield

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Description Cranwich Camp is a grassland site situated on sand and chalk towards the western edge of Breckland. It is a former army camp and has experienced some disturbance; nevertheless it remains a good example of Breckland grassland and is of high botanical and entomological interest. Three Red Data Book plants, four Red Data Book insects and seventeen other notable insects are recorded. The main plant community is a more mesotropic disturbed and ungrazed example of the Festuca ovinaPilosella officinarum – Thymus grassland. The community is dominated by bent grasses Agrostis species, false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum and red fescue Festuca rubra. Associated herbs include kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, viper's bugloss Echium vulgare and lady’s bedstraw Galium verum. Purple milk vetch Astragalus danicus, common rose Helianthemum nummularium are locally frequent in the more calcareous areas together with the Breckland specialities Spanish catchfly Silene otites and purple stem cat’s tail Phleum phleoides. The vegetation in the vicinity of the demolished buildings is more disturbed with biting stonecrop Sedum acre growing over the old foundations. The disturbance has, however, provided a favourable habitat for glabrous rupturewort Herniaria glabra. The site is one of very high entomological interest in supporting populations of some of Britain’s rarest invertebrates characteristic of the Breckland. Among the scarcer species recorded are two moths tawny wave Scopula rubiginata and marbled clover Heliothis viriplaca and two beetles, Odonteus armiger and the Breckland speciality, Diastictus vulneratus. The diverse flora and small areas of disturbed ground, both maintained by the rabbit population, are beneficial in retaining the high invertebrate interest on this site.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
horned dor beetle Odonteus armiger LC beetle dung geotrupidae
sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum LC grass poaceae
false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius LC grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
purple stemmed cats tail Phleum phleoides LC grass poaceae
lady's fingers (kidney vetch) Anthyllis vulneraria NT herb fabaceae
purple milk vetch Astragalus danicus EN herb fabaceae
greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa LC herb asteraceae
viper's bugloss Echium vulgare LC herb asteraceae
lady's bedstraw Galium verum LC herb rubiaceae
rock roses Helianthemum nummularium VU herb cistaceae
smooth rupturewort Herniaria glabra NT herb carophyllaceae
mouse_ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum LC herb asteraceae
wall-pepper Sedum acre LC herb crassulaceae
spanish catchfly Silene otites LC herb carophyllaceae
marbled clover Heliothis viriplaca R moth noctuidae
tawny wave Scopula rubiginata R moth geometridae

Plant communities

CG10 — Brownfield, Limestone pavement, Upland calcareous grassland

Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Thymus praecox grassland

Empetrum 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

MG1 — Brownfield, Hard cliff and cliff slope

Arrhenatherum elatius grassland

Hedera helix, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Aegopodium podagraria, Anthriscus sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Daucus carota, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella major, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Artemisia vulgaris, Carduus nutans, Centaurea nigra, Centaurea scabiosa, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Sonchus asper, Taraxacum officianalis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Campanula rotundifolia, Knautia arvensis, Scabiosa columbaria, Cerastium fontanum, Silene nutans, Stellaria graminea, Convolvulus arvensis, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sativa, Vicia sepium, Geranium dissectum, Hypericum perforatum, Clinopodium vulgare, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium album, Origanum vulgare, Teucrium scorodonia, Thymus praecox, Linum catharticum, Chamerion angustifolium, Epilobium hirsutum, Epipactis purpurata, Rhinanthus minor, Papaver dubium, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla reptans, Poterium sanguisorba, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium verum, Urtica dioica, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anisantha sterilis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Briza media, Bromopsis erecta, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Pteridium aquilinum, Chara vulgaris

MG2 — Brownfield

Arrhenatherum elatius-Filipendula ulmaria tall-herb grassland

Fraxinus excelsior, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Climacium dendroides, Eurhynchium striatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Oxyrrhynchium hians, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Sanionia uncinata, Thuidium tamariscinum, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Plagiochila asplenioides, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Peltigera horizontalis, Peltigera praetextata, Angelica sylvestris, Anthriscus sylvestris, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella major, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Myosotis arvensis, Cochlearia alpina, Draba muralis, Campanula rotundifolia, Scabiosa columbaria, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Parnassia palustris, Mercurialis perennis, Lathyrus pratensis, Vicia sepium, Geranium robertianum, Geranium sylvaticum, Hypericum hirsutum, Clinopodium vulgare, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Epilobium montanum, Oxalis acetosella, Veronica chamaedrys, Polemonium caeruleum, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Potentilla erecta, Rosa villosa, Sanguisorba officinalis, Cruciata laevipes, Galium aparine, Galium sterneri, Galium verum, Chrysosplenium alternifolium, Saxifraga hypnoides, Scrophularia nodosa, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Sesleria caerulea, Trisetum flavescens, Dryopteris filix-mas, Cystopteris fragilis, Chara curta

MG9 — Brownfield, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Mesotrophic grassland

Holcus lanatus-Deschampsia cespitosa grassland

Carex hirta, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Cirsium vulgare, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leucanthemum vulgare, Pulicaria dysenterica, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Hypericum perforatum, Mentha aquatica, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Plantago lanceolata, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex sanguineus, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Urtica dioica, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Glyceria fluitans, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Hordeum secalinum, Lolium perenne, Phalaris arundinacea, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens

MG11 — Brownfield, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Hard cliff and cliff slope

Festuca rubra-Agrostis stolonifera-Potentilla anserina grassland

Atriplex portulacoides, Carex arenaria, Carex distans, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bufonius, Juncus gerardii, Brachythecium rutabulum, Odontites verna, Oenanthe lachenalii, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Matricaria discoidea, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Sonchus asper, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum maritimum, Cochlearia anglica, Cochlearia officinalis, Cerastium fontanum, Honckenya peploides, Sagina procumbens, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex hastata, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Plantago maritima, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex acetosa, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Glaux maritima, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla reptans, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Ammophila arenaria, Arrhenatherum elatius, Bromus hordeaceous, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia juncea, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Parapholis strigosa, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis

MG13 — Brownfield, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh

Agrostis stolonifera-Alopecurus geniculatus grassland

Carex panicea, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bufonius, Juncus effusus, Juncus gerardii, Ceratodon purpureus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Oenanthe fistulosa, Caltha palustris, Cirsium arvense, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Myosotis scorpioides, Valeriana dioica, Stellaria alsine, Stellaria neglecta, Atriplex hastata, Triglochin maritimum, Triglochin palustre, Mentha aquatica, Montia fontana, Polygonum hydropiper, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus repens, Ranunculus sceleratus, Potentilla anserina, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Bromus hordeaceous, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Glyceria declinata, Glyceria fluitans, Glyceria notata, Holcus lanatus, Poa annua, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Dryopteris expansa

U1 — Brownfield, Lowland dry acid grassland

Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Rumex acetosella grassland

Quercus robur, Calluna vulgaris, Ulex europaeus, Ulex minor, Carex arenaria, Luzula campestris, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus introflexus, Ceratodon purpureus, Dicranum scoparium, Brachythecium albicans, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidium rugosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Syntrichia ruraliformis, Ptilidium ciliare, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia foliacea, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia tenuis, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Peltigera canina, Achillea millefolium, Filaginella uliginosa, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leontodon saxatilis, Logfia minima, Pilosella officinarum, Pilosella peleteriana, Senecio vulgaris, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis ramosissima, Arabidopsis thaliana, Arabis hirsuta, Erophila verna, Teesdalia nudicaulis, Campanula glomerata, Campanula rotundifolia, Arenaria serpyllifolia, Cerastium arvense, Cerastium fontanum, Sagina apetala, Sagina procumbens, Scleranthus perennis, Silene conica, Silene otites, Silene viscaria, Spergularia rubra, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria media agg., Crassula tillaea, Sedum acre, Sedum album, Sedum anglicum, Umbilicus rupestris, Anthyllis vulneraria, Astragalus danicus, Lotus corniculatus, Ornithopus perpusillus, Trifolium campestre, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium repens, Trifolium sp., Vicia sativa, Centaurium erythraea, Eriodium cicutarium, Geranium molle, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Thymus serpyllum, Chamerion angustifolium, Plantago coronopus, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica agrestis, Veronica arvensis, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica polita, Veronica spicata, Fallopia convolvulus, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Reseda lutea, Potentilla argentea, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Urtica dioica, Viola tricolor, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis vinealis, Aira praecox, Anisantha sterilis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Bromus hordeaceous, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Aphanes arvensis, Pteridium aquilinum

U2 — Brownfield, Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland

Deschampsia flexuosa grassland

Betula pendula, Quercus hybrid, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex europaeus, Carex nigra, Eriophorum vaginatum, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus pyriformis, Dicranum scoparium, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum piliferum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Cladonia gracilis, Chamerion angustifolium, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Pteridium aquilinum

W6 — Brownfield, Wet woodland

Alnus glutinosa-Urtica dioica woodland

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea, Salix fragilis, Salix viminalis, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Alnus glutinosa, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum opulus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Solanum dulcamara, Carex acutiformis, Carex paniculata, Carex riparia, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Lophocolea heterophylla, Humulus lupulus, Angelica sylvestris, Heracleum sphondylium, Oenanthe crocata, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Petasites hybridus, Taraxacum officianalis, Impatiens glandulifera, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria media agg., Equisetum arvense, Equisetum palustre, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris pseudacorus, Glechoma hederacea, Mentha aquatica, Stachys sylvatica, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Epilobium hirsutum, Epilobium montanum, Epilobium palustre, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica montana, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex sanguineus, Lysimachia vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, Urtica dioica, Agrostis stolonifera, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Athyrium filix-femina

W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub

Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Hedera helix, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Achillea millefolium, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Jasione montana, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Teucrium scorodonia, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Pteridium aquilinum