Copmill Hill

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.2190, -1.7781

Also within

Warwickshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SP152578 Unfavourable Recovering 11.56 2010-08-20

Description

Area, 11.5 ha. 28.4 ac. Description Copmill Hill lies to the north west of Stratford on Avon on a small escarpment of Rhaetic limestones overlying Tea Green Marls and surmounted by Lower Lias clay. It has been known as an important entomological site since the beginning of the century and this, together with its calcareous flora, accounts for its interest. The calcareous grassland is species rich and includes a number of plants of local distribution in the county including yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris and dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria. Part of the site has become scrubbed over with hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, dogwood Cornus sanguinea and wild privet Ligustrum vulgare. The main interest of the site is for its butterflies and moths. Thirty species of butterfly occurhere including the nationally restricted white-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album and a small colony of marbled white Melanargia galatheaa. The moth fauna is exceptional and includes thirteen rare or nationally restricted species. These include lace border Scopula ornata, ruddy carpet Catarhoe rubidata, brown scallop Philereme vetulata, maple pug Eupithecia inturbata, ochreous pug E. indigata pimpinel pug Eupithecia pimpinellata and Denisia augustella.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
white-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album VU butterfly lycaenidae
yellowwort Blackstonia perfoliata LC herb gentianaceae
carline thistle Carlina vulgaris LC herb asteraceae
wooly thistle Cirsium eriophorum LC herb asteraceae
dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria LC herb fabaceae
small scabious Scabiosa columbaria LC herb caprifoliaceae
ruddy carpet Catarhoe rubidata Not listed in GB list moth geometridae
no common name Denisia augustella Not listed in GB list moth oecophoridae
maple pug Eupithecia inturbata Not listed in GB list moth geometridae
pimpinel pug Eupithecia pimpinellata Not listed in GB list moth geometridae
brown scallop Philereme vetulata Not listed in GB list moth geometridae
lace border Scopula ornata Not listed in GB list moth geometridae
dogwood Cornus sanguinea LC shrub cornaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
wild privet Ligustrum vulgare LC shrub oleaceae

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.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Crataegus spp.
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Scabiosa columbaria
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus monogyna
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Genista tinctoria
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Crataegus spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus 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

CG9 — Limestone pavement, Lowland calcareous grassland, Upland calcareous grassland

Sesleria albicans-Galium sterneri grassland

Matches 2 species from the description above: Carlina vulgaris, Scabiosa columbaria

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Carex capillaris, Carex caryophyllea, Carex eragrostis, Carex flacca, Carex hostiana, Carex panicea, Carex pulicaris, Kobresia simpliciuscula, Selaginella selaginoides, Rhodobryum roseum, Dicranum scoparium, Ditrichum flexicaule, Fissidens dubius, Encalypta streptocarpa, Racomitrium canescens sens.lat., Racomitrium lanuginosum, Ctenidium molluscum, Homalothecium lutescens, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Neckera crispa, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Rhytidium rugosum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Tortella tortuosa, Barbilophozia barbata, Blepharostoma trichophyllum, Frullania tamarisci, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Scapania aspera, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia pocillum, Cladonia rangiformis, Cornicularia aculeata, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Antennaria dioica, Bellis perennis, Carlina vulgaris, Cirsium vulgare, Leontodon hispidus, Pilosella officinarum, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis alpestris, Cochlearia alpina, Draba incana, Campanula rotundifolia, Scabiosa columbaria, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Minuartia verna, Parnassia palustris, Helianthemum oelandicum icanum, Sedum acre, Anthyllis vulneraria, Hippocrepis comosa, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens, Gentiana verna, Gentianella amarella, Hypericum pulchrum, Thymus praecox, Pinguicula vulgaris, Linum catharticum, Epipactis atrorubens, Euphrasia confusa, Euphrasia officinalis, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago maritima, Veronica officinalis, Polygala vulgaris, Polygonum viviparum, Primula farinosa, Primula vulgaris, Thalictrum minus, Dryas octopetala, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla tabernaemontani, Poterium sanguisorba, Asperula cynanchica, Galium sterneri, Galium verum, Saxifraga hypnoides, Viola hirta, Viola riviniana, Viola rupestris, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pratensis, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Koeleria macrantha, Molinia caerulea, Sesleria caerulea

CG10 — Brownfield, Limestone pavement, Upland calcareous grassland

Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Thymus praecox grassland

Empetrum nigrum, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex caryophyllea, Carex demissa, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Selaginella selaginoides, Breutelia chrysocoma, Bryum pallens, Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum scoparium, Ditrichum flexicaule, Fissidens adianthoides, Fissidens osmundoides, Racomitrium canescens sens.lat., Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Tortella tortuosa, Frullania tamarisci, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cetraria islandica, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Achillea millefolium, Antennaria dioica, Bellis perennis, Cirsium palustre, Hieraclium spp., Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Pilosella officinarum, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Solidago virgaurea, Cardamine pratensis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Silene acaulis, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Lathyrus montanus, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens, Gentianella campestris, Hypericum pulchrum, Thymus praecox, Pinguicula vulgaris, Linum catharticum, Euphrasia confusa, Euphrasia officinalis, Euphrasia scottica, Oxalis acetosella, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago maritima, Veronica officinalis, Polygala serpyllifolia, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla filicaulis, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla wichurae, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Potentilla crantzii, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla sterilis, Rubus idaeus, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Galium sterneri, Galium verum, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pratensis, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Botrychium lunaria, Thelypteris limbosperma

CG11 — Upland calcareous grassland

Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Alchemilla alpina grass-heath

Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Salix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Juncus trifidus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula spicata, Luzula sylvatica, Diphasiastrum alpinum, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Breutelia chrysocoma, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium canescens sens.lat., Racomitrium lanuginosum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Pogonatum urnigerum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Barbilophozia lycopodioides, Diplophyllum albicans, Frullania tamarisci, Nardia scalaris, Ptilidium ciliare, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia uncialis, Peltigera canina, Achillea millefolium, Antennaria dioica, Gnaphalium supinum, Hieraclium spp., Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium alpinum, Cerastium fontanum, Minuartia sedoides, Silene acaulis, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Lathyrus montanus, Trifolium repens, Thymus praecox, Pinguicula vulgaris, Linum catharticum, Narthecium ossifragum, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Oxalis acetosella, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago maritima, Veronica officinalis, Veronica serpyllifolia, Armeria maritima, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla filicaulis, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Potentilla crantzii, Potentilla erecta, Sibbaldia procumbens, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Viola canina, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Botrychium lunaria, Thelypteris limbosperma

CG13 — Limestone pavement, Upland calcareous grassland

Dryas octopetala-Carex flacca heath

Salix repens, Empetrum nigrum, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Juniperus communis, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Rubus saxatilis, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Carex pulicaris, Carex rupestris, Schoenus nigricans, Luzula campestris, Selaginella selaginoides, Breutelia chrysocoma, Dicranum scoparium, Ditrichum flexicaule, Fissidens dubius, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Ctenidium molluscum, Entodon concinnus, Homalothecium lutescens, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Neckera complanata, Neckera crispa, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Rhytidium rugosum, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Tortella tortuosa, Frullania tamarisci, Plagiochila asplenioides, Scapania undulata, Cladonia rangiformis, Solorina saccata, Daucus carota, Antennaria dioica, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Pilosella officinarum, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Solidago virgaurea, Taraxacum officianalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Anthyllis vulneraria, Lathyrus montanus, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Gentianella amarella, Hypericum pulchrum, Thymus praecox, Pinguicula vulgaris, Linum catharticum, Epipactis atrorubens, Neottia ovata, Orchis mascula, Euphrasia confusa, Euphrasia officinalis, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago maritima, Plantago media, Polygala serpyllifolia, Polygonum viviparum, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Dryas octopetala, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Saxifraga aizoides, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pratensis, Cynosurus cristatus, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca vivipara, Koeleria macrantha, Molinia caerulea, Polystichum aculeatum

U4 — Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland

Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Galium saxatile grassland

Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex caryophyllea, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Lophocolea bidentata, Conopodium majus, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Taraxacum officianalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus montanus, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Thymus praecox, Euphrasia officinalis, Oxalis acetosella, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Polygala serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Viola lutea, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pratensis, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Lolium perenne, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Chara curta

U5 — Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland

Nardus stricta-Galium saxatile grassland

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Sphagnum papillosum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia uncialis, Cirsium palustre, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum palustre, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Trifolium repens, Narthecium ossifragum, Plantago lanceolata, Polygala serpyllifolia, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Alchemilla alpina, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant