Mappp.co geology and wildlife sites

Toyd Down and Quarry

…hire type, with notable quantities of dwarf sedge Carex humilis, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, field fleawort Senecio integrifolius and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. A good range of old chalk t…

Porton Down

…pendula vulgaris, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and common milkwort Polygala vulgaris. Rarer species include early gentian Gentianella anglica, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum and field fleawort Senecio integrifolius, all of which …

Minchinhampton Common

… rose Helianthemum nummularium, harebell Campanula rotundifolia, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and field scabious Knautia arvensis while the numerous orchids include bee orchid Ophrys apifera, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis. More neutr…

Yarnbury Castle

… high proportion of the turf, with dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa abundant. The smaller trailing herbs are represented by common thyme Thymus praecox, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica and common rock rose Hel…

Warren Bank

…bious Knautia arvensis, together with more local species such as chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, pale toadflax Linaria repens and bee orchid Ophrys apifera. Autumn felwort Gentianella amarella, ploughman's spikenard Inula conyza and deadly nightshade Atropa belladonna occur tow…

Great Yews

… areas of herb rich rabbit grazed chalk grassland, with abundant chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, glaucous and spring sedges Carex flacca and Carex caryophyllea and occasional kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria and common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium. In the eastern glade t…

Lardon Chase

…ntianella amarella, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. Some of the richest flora occurs on thinner soils on the steepest part of the slope where the turf is shorter and rabbit grazed and includes additional species such as horseshoe vet…

Crickley Hill and Barrow Wake

…cabiosa columbaria, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. Several orchids occur, including early purple orchid Orchis mascula and bee orchid Ophrys apifera with the notable musk orchid Herminium monorchis locally frequent. Viper's bugloss …

Wilmington Downs

… burnet Poterium sanguisorba, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, Autumn lady's tresses Spiranthes spiralis and a plant which is restricted to chalk in Southern Britain, round headed rampion Phyteuma orbiculare. The…

Ladle Hill

…ch rare or local plants as field fleawort Senecio integrifolius, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, hairy rock cress Arabis hirsuta, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis. The escarpment slopes, though species rich, support fewer species t…

Figsbury Ring

…or herbicides, for example knapweed broomrape Orobanche elatior, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris and two species which have nationally restricted distributions, dwarf sedge Carex humilis and bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum. Level areas of the…

Moulsford Downs

… Thesium humifusum, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. The bare chalk areas and rabbit grazed patches have a distinct flora including vervain Verbena officinalis, candytuft Iberis amara and chalkhill eyebright Euphrasia pseudokerneri. T…

King's Play Hill

… scabious Succisa pratensis, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and squinancywort Asperula cynanchica. Lesser butterfly orchid Platanthera bifolia, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and early purple orchid Or…

Salisbury Plain

… growing perennials includings quinancywort Asperula cynanchica, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, wild thyme Thymus praecox, the nationally scarce bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum and purple milk vetch Astragalus danicus in its most southerly Brit…

Barnsley Warren

…e also holds many locally restricted lime loving plants, such as chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, purple milk vetch Astragalus danicus and dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria. There is also a rich orchid flora…

Morgan's Hill

…shire Chalk to flourish, including dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. Species of nationally restricted distribution are widespread, such…

Parsonage Down

…gentian Gentianella anglica, bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, dodder Cuscuta epithymum and field fleawort Senecio integrifolius. Orchids are well represented and include burnt and green winged orchids Neotinea ustulata and O. morio and frog o…

Knighton Downs & Wood

…eed Genista tinctoria, meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulataa and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. Frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis and autumn lady’s tresses Spiranthes spiralis are two of ten recently recorded orchid species. Plants with a restricted British distribution are wel…

Bredon Hill

…ly uncommon plants include purple milk vetch Astragalus danicus, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, hound’s tongue Cynoglossum officinale, bee orchid Ophrys apifera and adder’s tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum. Old quarry workings support a num…

Upton Cow Down

…net Poterium sanguisorba, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. This type of community is found over chalk throughout southern England and is particularly associated with Wiltshire. The sward is composed mainly of upright brome and sheep's fescu…

Inkpen and Walbury Hills

…than north facing slopes. Species of particular interest include chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, which are now becoming rare in the county due to the loss of suitable chalk grassland habitat. Much of the grass…

Firle Escarpment

…clude fairy flax Linum catharticum, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, milkwort Polygala calcarea and the grasses, sheep's fescue Festuca ovina and upright brome Bromus erectus. Taller grasslands are dominated by upright brome, tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum and false oat grass …

Gallows Hill

…aged without ploughing, fertilisers or herbicides. These include chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, saw wort Serratula tinctoria and betony Betonica officinalis. Where tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum dominates, the vegetation is longer and the diversity reduced, though several of …

Kingley Vale

…nguisorba. Among the species which are abundant in the sward are chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, wild thyme Thymus praecox and squinancywort Asperula cynanchica. Several uncommon plants are present, including autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, roundheaded rampion Phyteuma or…

Steeple Langford Down

…clude betony Betonica officinalis, saw wort Serratula tinctoria, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and the native form of sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia. There are also populations of field fleawort Senecio integrifolius, burnt orchid Neot…

Long Knoll

… vetch Hippocrepis comosa, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. Species present which are characteristic of the western chalk grasslands include heath grass Danthonia decumbens, betony Betonica officinalis and devil's bit scabious Succisa prate…

Prescombe Down

…llflower Campanula glomerata, sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. The diversity of the habitat is increased by the mixed calcareous scrub occurring in dense clumps at the northern extremities of the site. Prescombe Down supports almost twenty resi…

Seven Barrows

…alk grassland species which are present at Seven Barrows include chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and several wild orchids including frog Dactylorhiza viridis, bee Ophrys apifera and fragrant orchids Gymnade…

Burghclere Beacon

…hoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and felwort Gentianella amarella and several species of orchids. There is a decidedly neutral element in the flora which suggests that the soils may in part be derived from superfici…

Wylye and Church Dean Downs

…uity of grazing, for example horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, saw wort Serratula tinctoria, frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis and the nationally scarce bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum, field fleawort Senecio integrifolius and burnt orchid Ne…

Throope Down

…orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, which is numerous on some slopes and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea which is abundant in areas of shorter turf. There are extensive areas of ant hills on some slopes. These ant hills carry a distinctive flora including rock rose Helianthemum nummular…

Quarley Hill Fort

…ether with several rather less common species including abundant chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis, greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum and a relict proportion of juniper Juniperus communis.

Aston Clinton Ragpits

…nly by rabbits and walkers and containing cowslip Primula veris, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, chalk eyebright Euphrasia pseudokerneri, Chiltern and autumn gentians Gentianella germanica and Gentianella amarella, horseshoe and kidney vetches Hippocrepis comosa and Anthyllis v…

Pewsey Downs

…w wort Serratula tinctoria, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. Orchids are also well represented and include fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis, lesser butterfly orchid Platanthera bifolia, bee orchid Ophrys …

Calstone and Cherhill Downs

…wing species, for example horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, to flourish. Among the several plant species of nationally restricted distribution occurring on the downland are field fleawort Senecio integrifolius, bastard toadflax Thesium humif…

Brimsdown Hill

…spread, as are the herbs horseshoe vetch Ilippocrepis comosa and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. Heath grass Danthonia decumbens, devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis, betony Betonica officinalis and saw wort Serratula tinctoria also occur, a group of species with a strikingl…

Castle Hill

…sa, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, milkwort Polygala calcarea, scabious Scabiosa columbaria, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis and crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha. Warm, south facing slopes foster an…

Fontmell and Melbury Downs

…The many chalk herbs include horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and the very local early gentian Gentianella anglica and bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum. Orchids are well represented in these swards and include amongst others, fragrant orchid …

Scratchbury & Cotley Hills

…bit scabious Succisa pratensis, saw wort Serratula tinctoria and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. Plants with a nationally restricted distribution are early gentian Gentianella anglica, bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum and field fleawort Senecio integrifolius. Orchids are well…

Bracknell Croft

…rchid Gymnadenia conopsea, knapweed broomrape Orobanche elatior, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia, as well as juniper, devil's bit scabious and dropwort. The fauna of the site has received only limited attention. However a variety of birds, amon…

Burcombe Down

…larium. Also present are devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and saw wort Serratula tinctoria, these being particularly characteristic of the chalk of south west Wiltshire. Several orchids have been recorded, including fragrant orchid Gymnaden…

Great Cheverell Hill

…l flower Campanula glomerata, sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, with occasional heath grass Danthonia decumbens and squinancywort Asperulacynanchica. Seven species of orchid have been recorded, including bee Ophrys apifera, pyramidal Anacamptis …

Croker's Hole

… Succisa pratensis, wild thyme Thymus praecox, bastard toadflax, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, horseshoe and kidney vetches Hippocrepis comosa and Anthyllis vulneraria, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris. Greater knapweed Centaurea sca…

Westwell Gorse

…ether with the uncommon purple milk vetch Astragalus danicus and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. The downy fruited sedge grows in this herb rich grassland and is present at an unusually high density; the population is estimated to be over 4,000 plants. Nationally the species is…

Knapp and Barnett's Downs

…l orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, whilst uncommon species include chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum, both of which are largely confined to the southern chalk. Herbs which elsewhere are typical of the dwarf sedge grasslands of Wiltshire, includ…

Whitesheet Hill

…indicative of a long period of uninterrupted management, such as chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, green winged orchid Anacamptis morio, frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis and the nationally restricted dwarf sedge Carex humilis and burnt or…

Lydden and Temple Ewell Downs

…ncywort Asperula cynanchica, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and autumn lady's tresses Spiranthes spiralis. A number of rarities also occur, most notably the early spider orchid Ophrys sphegodes, but also b…

Queendown Warren

…isturbed chalk grassland. Among the more interesting species are chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and several species of orchids including the rare early spider orchid Ophrys sphegodes. Another rare plant pres…

Ebsbury Down

…nt. The community is particularly herb rich with an abundance of chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, cowslip Primula veris, commonrock rose Helianthemum nummularium and devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis. Herbs which occur frequently include horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, …

Hartslock

…e of uncommon plants like bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. The downy fruited sedge Carex filiformis occurs here in one of its few stations on the chalk. The insect fauna contains many species uncommon in Oxfordshire and includes populations…

The Coombs, Hinton Parva

…lower Campanula glomerata, green winged orchid Anacamptis morio, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis and large thyme Thymus pulegioides. The southern and western facing slopes particularly are characterised by common rock rose Helianthemum num…

Otford to Shoreham Downs

…nts are found growing here, man orchid Acerus anthropophorum and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. The formerly widespread scrub species juniper Juniperus communis occurs here at one of its last Kent localities. Much of the grassland areas grade into woodland through an intermed…

Sheep's Banks

…mpinella saxifraga, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. Five species of orchid have been recorded, including bee orchid Ophrys apifera, pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis and also green winged orchid Anacamptis morio which is unusua…

Bratton Downs

…Filipendula vulgaris, autumn ladies tresses Spiranthes spiralis, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea. Populations of the uncommon bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum, a species strictly associated with southern chalk and limestone, occur at sev…

Whitehorse Hill

…e vetch Hippocrepis comosa, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, common milkwort Polygala vulgaris and glaucous sedge Carex flacca. The rare Chiltern gentian Gentianella germanica, a species confined to central southern England, occurs on some of the exposed slopes. The sparse cha…

Win Green Down

…nt orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulataa. Other species characteristic of the south Wiltshire chalk include devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, saw wort Serratula tinctoria and…

Rodborough Common

… value for insects. The herb rich sward includes species such as chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. Orchids are well represented, especially in some of the old quar…

Fyfield Down

…urs on more calcareous soils with typical downland herbs such as chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis. Within the grassland occur many thousand sarsen stones, which are composed of sand particles cemented …

White Shute

…ch Hippocrepis comosa, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. Wild orchids recorded include common spotted Dactylorhiza fuchsii, southern marsh D. praetermissa and fragrant orchids Gymnadenia conopsea. Areas of scrub consist of hawthorn, hazel…

Botley Down

…y abundant. There are areas of short turf on the mid slope where chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa occur in quantity, with less frequent occurrence of squinancywort Asperula cynanchica clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata autumn gentian G…

Wouldham to Detling Escarpment

…d Anacamptis pyramidalis; several plants scarce in Kent+ such as chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, burnet rose Rosa spinosissima and adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum; several nationally scarce* species such as man orchid Orchis anthorpophor…

Hollingbourne Downs

… thistle Cirsium acaule. Less common plants which occur include chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and, in an old chalk pit, musk orchid and man orchid. In a chalk quarry, whitebeam and yew scrub has developed over a herb rich turf which includes the very rare mat grass fescue. El…

Barton Bushes

…aecox. Other more locally restricted lime loving plants include chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, early purple orchid Orchis mascula and adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum. The site contains areas of dense and scattered scrub and scattered trees. hawthorn Crataegus monogy…

West Woodhay Down

… species for Berkshire include frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulataa.

Lewes Downs

… south facing slopes of Malling Combe and Mount Caburn including chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and round headed rampion Phyteuma orbiculare. One of the largest British colonies of the burnt tip orchid Neotinea ustulata occurs on the upper slope of Mount Caburn, intermittently …

Cockey Down

…e northern part of the site. Horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and the nationally scarce field fleawort Senecio integrifolius grow here in impressive densities. Small amounts of bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum, another nationally restricted s…

Bowerchalke Downs

…ellflower Campanula glomerata, frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and betony Betonica officinalis. There is, however, much variety within the vegetation and several species that are generally scattered in the turf such as glaucous sedge Carex flacc…

Odstock Down

…assland are frequent such as horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis. Nationally restricted species include the low growing bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum and the diminutive burnt orchid Neotinea ustulat…

Brickworth Down and Dean Hill

…upted management include devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis and autumn lady's tresses Spiranthes spiralis. Plants with a nationally restricted distribution are represented by dwarf sedge Carex humilis, bastar…

Taynton Quarries

…upright brome Bromus erectus and a wide range of herbs including chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, large thyme Thymus pulegioides and green winged orchid Anacamptis morio. This sward also contains bastard toadflax …

Stockton Wood and Down

…teristic species include devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and heath grass Danthonia decumbens. Several orchids are recorded from the site, among which are frog orchid D…

Folkington Reservoir

…slopes around the reservoir have a diverse chalk flora including chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and various orchids, pyramidal Anacamptis pyramidalis, bee Ophrys apifera, fragrant Gymnadenia conopsea and com…

Winklebury Hill

… frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis, saw wort Serratula tinctoria, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, heath grass Danthonia decumbens and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. Several plants present are scarce on a national scale and include …

Halling to Trottiscliffe Escarpment

…improved downland. Among these are dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and several species of orchid including the scarce musk orchid Herminium monorchis and man orchid Orchis…

Blandford Camp

…seshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, large thyme Thymus pulegioides, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, kidney vetch Anthylis vulneraria, the local and declining basil thyme Clinopodium acinos and the nationally scarce and endemic early gentian Gentianella anglica1. The moss Pseudoscl…

Cley Hill

…anthonia decumbens are found on earthworks near the summit while chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and autumn lady's tresses Spiranthes spiralis grow on the slopes around the long disused quarry. Cley Hill supports two plants which have a restricted distribution early gentian Gent…

Dank's Down and Truckle Hill

…ny Betonica officinalis, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata. There is in addition a thriving population of bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum, a species of very limited distribution in Britain. Hab…

Pentridge Down

…rchid Dactylorhiza viridis, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria and the nationally scarce bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum and endemic spring gentian Gentianella anglica 1. Grasses and sedges present in th…

Hackpen, Warren & Gramp's Hill Downs

…ich assemblage of herbs includes yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and a high density of cowslip Primula veris. The site has eleven species of butterfly recorded, including th…

Camp Down

…d salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba widespread. Both common and chalk milkworts Polygala vulgaris and P. calcarea are present. The site supports good numbers of orchids, with fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea particularly abundant. Species of nationally restricted distribution …

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