Beckhead Plantation
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE816536 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 3.67 | 2023-12-19 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Area, 3.67 hectares 9.07 ac Description Whilst clearly of plantation origin, this woodland nevertheless demonstrates many of the characteristic features of a northern ash woodland on chalk. The canopy is dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior with some wych elm Ulmus glabra, field maple Acer campestre and rowan Sorbus aucuparia. Alien species such as spruce Picea abies and horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum are present in limited numbers, whilst the naturalised sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus is rather more common. The understorey contains a good variety of shrub species including hazel Corylus avellana, guelder rose Viburnum opulus, elder Sambucus nigra, gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa and fly honeysuckle Lonicera xylosteum. The calcareous nature of the brown earth soil overlying chalk is reflected in the rich ground flora. Dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis is locally dominant and enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana, herb bennet Geum urbanum, twayblade Neottia ovata, common dog violet Viola riviniana and early dog violet Viola reichenbachiana are all widely distributed. Baneberry Actaea spicata, an uncommon species, occurs here. Other Information The site is managed as a nature reserve by the Yorkshire Naturalists' Trust.
Species mentioned
Show the 19 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| baneberry | Actaea spicata | VU | herb | ranunculaceae |
| enchanter's nightshade | Circaea lutetiana | LC | herb | onagraceae |
| herb bennet | Geum urbanum | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| fly homeysuckle | Lonicera xylosteum | Not listed in GB list | herb | carophyllaceae |
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| common twayblade | Neottia ovata | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| early dog violet | Viola reichenbachiana | LC | herb | violaceae |
| common dog violet | Viola riviniana | LC | herb | violaceae |
| gooseberry | Ribes uva-crispa | Not listed in GB list | shrub | grossulariaceae |
| elder | Sambucus nigra | LC | shrub | caprifoliaceae |
| gelder rose | Viburnum opulus | LC | shrub | caprifoliaceae |
| field maple | Acer campestre | LC | tree | aceraceae |
| sycamore | Acer pseudoplatanus | Not listed in GB list | tree | aceraceae |
| horse chestnut | Aesculus hippocastanum | Not listed in GB list | tree | hippocastanaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| Norway spruce | Picea abies | Not listed in GB list | tree | pinaceae |
| rowan | Sorbus aucuparia | LC | tree | rosaceae |
| wych elm | Ulmus glabra | LC | tree | ulmaceae |
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.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| High brown fritillary Fabriciana adippe |
Critically Endangered | Viola riviniana |
| Pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria euphrosyne |
Endangered | Viola riviniana |
| Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata |
Endangered | Acer campestre |
| The v-moth Macaria wauaria |
Endangered | Ribes uva-crispa |
| No common name Melanophila acuminata |
Endangered | Picea abies |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Ulmus spp. |
| Feathered beauty Peribatodes secundaria |
Endangered | Picea abies |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Picea spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer campestre, Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Sorbus aucuparia, Ulmus spp. |
| The spinach Eulithis mellinata |
Vulnerable | Ribes uva-crispa |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Ribes uva-crispa, Ulmus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Ulmus glabra |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Geum urbanum |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Ulmus spp. |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Picea abies, Sorbus aucuparia |
| Small pearl-bordered Boloria selene |
Near Threatened | Viola riviniana |
| Dusky-lemon sallow Cirrhia gilvago |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Ulmus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Larch pug Eupithecia lariciata |
Near Threatened | Picea abies |
| White-spotted pug Eupithecia tripunctaria |
Near Threatened | Sambucus nigra |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Ulmus 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.