Aston Clinton Ragpits

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.7891, -0.7135

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SP888108 Favourable 2.51 2011-07-21

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

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina VU butterfly riodinidae
common blue Polyommatus icarus LC butterfly lycaenidae
male fern Dryopteris filix-mas LC fern dryopteridaceae
adders-tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum LC fern ophioglossaceae
false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius LC grass poaceae
wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum LC grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
wood meadow grass Poa nemoralis LC grass poaceae
pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis LC herb orchidaceae
lady's fingers (kidney vetch) Anthyllis vulneraria NT herb fabaceae
white helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium LC herb orchidaceae
spotted orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii LC herb orchidaceae
frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis VU herb orchidaceae
broad-leaved helleborine Epipactis helleborine DD herb orchidaceae
chalk eyebright Euphrasia pseudokerneri NT herb orobanchaceae
autumn gentian Gentianella amarella LC herb gentianaceae
Chiltern gentian Gentianella germanica VU herb gentianaceae
fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea NT herb orchidaceae
horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa VU herb fabaceae
common twayblade Neottia ovata NT herb orchidaceae
bee orchid Ophrys apifera LC herb orchidaceae
fly orchid Ophrys insectifera VU herb orchidaceae
wild marjoram Origanum vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha NT herb orchidaceae
chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea VU herb polygalaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
common valerian Valeriana officinalis LC herb caprifoliaceae
traveller's joy Clematis vitalba LC shrub ranunculaceae
buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica LC shrub rhamnaceae
wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana LC shrub caprifoliaceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
whitebeams Sorbus aria CR tree rosaceae
goat willow Salix caprea LC tree shrub salicaceae

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.

SpeciesStatusVia 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

Hedera 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

Salix 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

Hedera 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

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