Mottistone Down
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SZ405847 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 6.1 | 2010-03-16 |
| SZ413845 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 27.04 | 2010-03-15 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk, Flint
Description
Area, 31.41 hectares Description Mottistone Down is one of a series of chalk and neutral grasslands extending along the main east west chalk ridge of the Isle of Wight. Collectively and individually they are of great scientific and nature conservation importance for the species richness of the chalk grassland plant communities and the occurrence of a neutral to acid flora on the superficial drift deposits which cap the ridge. Mottistone Down covers the south slope and top of the main west–east chalk ridge of the Isle of Wight. The steep scarp slope supports an extremely species rich chalk grassland flora with 28–30 species/m 2. It is dominated by sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, red fescue Festuca rubra and glaucous sedge Carex flacca. Twenty seven species of downland herbs have been recorded including rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, wild thyme Thymus praecox and horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa. The local bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum and rare early gentian Gentianella anglica also occur commonly. The flatter top of the down is capped with angular flint gravel of varying depth. This supports a very interesting community of calcicole and calcifuge grassland plants interspersed with gorse Ulex europaeus scrub. The grassland is dominated by common bent Agrostis capillaris, red fescue Festuca rubra and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus. Calcifuge species include common tormentil Potentilla erecta, sheep’s sorrel Rumex acetosella and locally heather Calluna vulgaris and bell heather Erica cinerea. Rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and eye bright Euphrasia officinalis are some of the calcicole species that are commonly found in this area.
Species mentioned
Show the 17 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima |
Endangered | Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea |
| Least minor Photedes captiuncula |
Endangered | Carex flacca |
| Fiery clearwing Pyropteron chrysidiformis |
Endangered | Rumex acetosella |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Poterium sanguisorba |
| Northern brown Aricia artaxerxes |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Rumex spp. |
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Hippocrepis comosa |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Helianthemum nummularium |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Rumex spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra |
| True lover's knot Lycophotia porphyrea |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Helianthemum nummularium, Hippocrepis comosa, Ulex spp. |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Potentilla erecta, Poterium sanguisorba |
| Lead belle Scotopteryx mucronata |
Vulnerable | Ulex europaeus |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Festuca spp. |
| Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Festuca ovina, Rumex spp. |
| Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Weaver's wave Idaea contiguaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Silky wave Idaea dilutaria |
Near Threatened | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Holcus lanatus |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Carex flacca, Festuca ovina |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Rumex 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
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Matches 7 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Calluna vulgaris, Carex flacca, Euphrasia officinalis, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Thymus praecox
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 4 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Ulex europaeus
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
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Matches 2 species from the description above: Holcus lanatus, Poterium sanguisorba
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