Warham Camp
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TF943408 | — | Favourable | 5.07 | 2009-07-08 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Area, 5.04 hectares 12.45 ac Description Warham Camp is an Iron Age fort consisting of earthworks in the form of steep banks and ditches which support a diverse chalk grassland flora. Unimproved chalk grassland is now very rare in Norfolk and this site supports several locally uncommon plants. The site is also of some entomological interest with several species of butterfly that are associated with the chalkland plants. The grassland is heavily grazed by cattle and rabbits and the resulting short turf is dominated by sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha and quaking grass Briza media. A wide variety of herb species are present. Among the more interesting are common rose Helianthemum nummularium, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, larger wild thyme Thymus pulegioides, cowslip Primula veris, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, felwort Gentianella amarella and pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis. Butterfly species include common blue Polyommatus icarus and brown argus Aricia agestis and the uncommon chalk hill blue Polyommatus coridon has also been recorded.
Species mentioned
Show the 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| brown argus | Aricia agestis | LC | butterfly | lycaenidae |
| chalkhill blue | Polyommatus coridon | VU | butterfly | lycaenidae |
| common blue | Polyommatus icarus | LC | butterfly | lycaenidae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| sheep's fescue | Festuca ovina | LC | grass | poaceae |
| crested hair-grass | Koeleria macrantha | NT | grass | poaceae |
| pyramidal orchid | Anacamptis pyramidalis | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| squinancywort | Asperula cynanchica | VU | herb | rubiaceae |
| dropwort | Filipendula vulgaris | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| autumn gentian | Gentianella amarella | LC | herb | gentianaceae |
| rock roses | Helianthemum nummularium | VU | herb | cistaceae |
| cowslip | Primula veris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| large garden | Thymus pulegioides | VU | herb | lamiaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula veris |
| Northern brown Aricia artaxerxes |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca ovina |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Festuca spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Silky wave Idaea dilutaria |
Near Threatened | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.