Aston Clinton Ragpits
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP888108 | — | Favourable | 2.51 | 2011-07-21 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Area, 2.94 hectares 7.28 ac Description Formerly worked for chalk freestone rag, this small area of old pits and spoil heaps at the foot of the Chiltern escarpment has become colonised by an unusually rich assemblage of herbs, shrubs and invertebrates, including several which are rare in the county. A screen of mature woodland and a hawthorn hedge shelter add further interest to the site. The grassland consists of mosaics of red fescue Festuca rubra, upright brome Bromus erectus, wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum and tall oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius. The first two form species rich swards maintained mainly 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 vulneraria, twayblade Neottia ovata and frog, bee, fly, fragrant, pyramidal, common spotted and greater and lesser butterfly orchids Dactylorhiza viridis, Ophrys apifera, Ophrys insectifera, Gymnadenia conopsea, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Platanthera chlorantha and P. bifolia as well as the adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum and fungi including a morel Morchella sp. The false brome is associated with both existing and cleared scrub, as are certain herbs including valerian Valeriana officinalis, marjoram Origanum vulgare and male fern Dryopteris filix-mas. Scrub ranges from regenerating dogwood to well established trees of birch Betula pendula and goat willow Salix caprea and includes hawthorn which constitutes the bulk of the hedge, wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana, buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica, hazel, old man's beard Clematis vitalba and others. Of interest is a young plant of mezereon Daphnemezereum, probably bird sown. The woodland fringe consists of mature beech with yew, ash and whitebeam Sorbus aria, as well as Scot's pine. The associated herbaceous flora includes white and broad leaved helleborines Cephalanthera damasonium and Epipactis helleborine and abundant wood meadow grass Poa nemoralis. Some twenty seven species of butterfly have been recorded in the Ragpits, an impressive total for such a small site. The chalk hill and common blues Lycaena coridon and Polyommatus icarus and Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina are examples whose larval food plants grow here.
Species mentioned
Show the 34 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusInsects 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Origanum vulgare |
| Chequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon |
Endangered | Brachypodium sylvaticum |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Rhamnus cathartica, Salix spp. |
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula veris |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Betula spp., Salix spp. |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Salix caprea |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Salix spp., Viburnum lantana |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp. |
| Scarce chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Salix spp. |
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Hippocrepis comosa |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Brachypodium sylvaticum, Festuca rubra |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Salix spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Rhamnus cathartica, Salix caprea |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Hippocrepis comosa |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Salix spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Salix spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Salix caprea |
| Purple emperor Apatura iris |
Near Threatened | Salix caprea |
| Minor shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis |
Near Threatened | Salix caprea |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Festuca spp., Poa spp. |
| Small blue Cupido minimus |
Near Threatened | Anthyllis vulneraria |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Salix caprea |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Betula pendula |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Salix spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Salix spp. |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Brachypodium sylvaticum |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Arrhenatherum elatius |
| White prominent Leucodonta bicoloria |
Regionally Extinct | Betula spp. |
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.
Plant communities
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Matches 9 species from the description above: Arrhenatherum elatius, Betula pendula, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Clematis vitalba, Dryopteris filix-mas, Origanum vulgare, Rhamnus cathartica, Sorbus aria, Viburnum lantana
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Matches 3 species from the description above: Dactylorhiza viridis, Festuca rubra, Valeriana officinalis
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 3 species from the description above: Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dryopteris filix-mas, Festuca rubra
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas
W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub
Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 3 species from the description above: Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Festuca rubra
Show 40 indicator speciesHedera 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