Barnsley Warren

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.7690, -1.9075

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (6) Unfavourable Recovering (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SP052069 Favourable 6.64 2009-08-06
SP055057 Favourable 12.75 2009-08-06
SP056065 Favourable 3.38 2009-08-06
SP059069 Unfavourable Recovering 7.4 2013-07-04
SP060053 Favourable 15.05 2009-08-06
SP063073 Unfavourable Recovering 13.56 2013-07-04
SP064078 Favourable 2.19 2013-07-04
SP065076 Favourable 2.19 2013-07-04

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Chalk, Limestone

Description

Area, 61.3 ha. 151.6 ac. Description Barnsley Warren is of special interest and national importance for conservation for its unimproved limestone grassland and its associated wildlife, including nationally rare and scarce plants and butterflies. The site occupies a branching dry valley close to the village of Barnsley near Cirencester. It consists of unimproved limestone grassland, scattered and dense scrub, hazel coppice and includes a section of winter bourne stream. The landform produces a variety of aspects although west facing slopes predominate. Multiple ownership results in different management in different parts of the site. This produces a variety of grassland structure from short, tightly grazed turf through to a tall sward with scattered scrub. The underlying geology is great Oolite, a limestone from the Jurassic period. The grassland is mainly of two types that are characteristic of the Cotswolds. These are upright brome Bromus erectus grassland and the upright brome -tor grass Bromus erectus Brachypodium pinnatum grassland. A 1993 survey of 200 Cotswold grasslands found that Barnsley Warren was one of the top ten sites for the abundance and quality of its plant life. Many traditional grasslands have been lost locally in the last 40 years, by agricultural improvement, abandonment and cessation of grazing. Barnsley Warren is significant as the largest surviving Gloucestershire limestone grassland that is not common land. In addition to upright brome and tor grass other characteristic grasses include sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis and quaking grass Briza media. Herbs typical of these plant communities are present such as salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and small scabious Scabiosa columbaria. The site 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 including early purple orchid Orchis mascula, green winged orchid O. morio and bee orchid Ophrys apifera. Barnsley Warren holds the largest Cotswold population of the nationally scarce plant, the pasque flower Pulsatilla vulgaris. In the Cotswolds, this species is associated with closely grazed turf. Pasqueflower has suffered massive declines nationally and as a slow coloniser is particularly at risk. Two other nationally scarce plants which are specific to areas of short turf occur on the site. These are the bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum and the dwarf mouse ear Cerastium pumilum. Several different types of scrub occur at Barnsley Warren. Gorse Ulex europaeus occurs as extensive patches in two parts of the dry valley. hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and ash Fraxinus excelsior are colonising the gorse stands and occur as scattered bushes and trees in other parts of the site. Birch Betula pendula, turkey oak Quercus cerris and blackthorn Prunus spinosa are significant components of the scrub in parts of the site. The diverse habitat structure of the site supports an important range of invertebrates. The site is nationally important for its butterfly interest. The mixture of scrub and long grass provides the grassland edge habitat favoured by the nationally scarce butterfly the Duke of Burgundy fritillary Hamearis lucina. The short grass habitat is particularly significant in providing a habitat for warmth loving insects. A nationally scarce species of red ant, Myrmica schencki occurs in the areas of shortest turf.

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
meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum LC grass poaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
purple milk vetch Astragalus danicus EN herb fabaceae
dwarf mouse ear Cerastium pumilum NT herb carophyllaceae
dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule VU herb asteraceae
dropwort Filipendula vulgaris LC herb rosaceae
dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria LC herb fabaceae
rock roses Helianthemum nummularium VU herb cistaceae
bee orchid Ophrys apifera LC herb orchidaceae
early purple orchid Orchis mascula LC herb orchidaceae
chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea VU herb polygalaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
pasque flower Pulsatilla vulgaris EN herb ranunculaceae
small scabious Scabiosa columbaria LC herb caprifoliaceae
devils-bit scabious Succisa pratensis VU herb caprifoliaceae
bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum VU herb santalaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
gorse Ulex europaeus LC shrub leguminosae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
Turkey oak Quercus cerris Not listed in GB list tree fagaceae

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
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Black hairstreak
Satyrium pruni
Endangered Prunus spinosa
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Poterium sanguisorba
Northern brown
Aricia artaxerxes
Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Betula spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Scabiosa columbaria, Succisa pratensis
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium
White-line dart
Euxoa tritici
Vulnerable Cerastium spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Festuca ovina
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium, Ulex spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Poterium sanguisorba
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Genista tinctoria, Ulex europaeus
Brown hairstreak
Thecla betulae
Vulnerable Prunus spinosa
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Betula pendula
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Prunus spinosa
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Betula pendula
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Quercus spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Betula spp., Festuca ovina
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
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
The blackneck
Lygephila pastinum
Near Threatened Astragalus spp.
Clay fan-foot
Paracolax tristalis
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
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 6 species from the description above: Betula pendula, Brachypodium pinnatum, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Poterium sanguisorba, Prunus spinosa

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 2 species from the description above: Festuca ovina, Succisa pratensis

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 2 species from the description above: Prunus spinosa, Ulex europaeus

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

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa