Shiplate Slait

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.2989, -2.9069

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable No Change (1) Favourable (1) Unfavourable Declining (1) Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
ST361564 Unfavourable No Change 10.83 2010-11-01
ST363568 Favourable 11.42 2009-08-19
ST366565 Unfavourable Declining 5.41 2010-11-01
ST368559 Unfavourable Recovering 6.53 2014-01-14

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous, Triassic · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Conglomerate, Dolomite, Limestone, Mudstone

Description

Area, 33.90 ha. 83.77 ac. Description Shiplate Slait lies towards the western end of the Mendips between 30 and 160 metres mainly on south and west facing slopes, but with north and east aspects. The site has unimproved calcicolous grassland, some of which is mixed with dwarf shrub, mosaics of calcicolous grassland and scrub and woodland. Four nationally rare types of vegetation form most of the grassland. At Shiplate the Mendips are underlain by Clifton Down Limestone, Burrington Oolite, Black Rock Dolomite and Black Rock Limestone of the Carboniferous Limestone Series. There is Dolomitic Conglomerate Triassic Mudstone at the lower edges of the site. Soils range from thin, immature soils derived by weathering of limestone rendzinas to more acid soils over the mudstone. The limestone soils are free to excessively draining and tend to become parched in summer, especially on the south facing slopes and knolls. Small rock outcrops are common. Localised variations in management and particularly climatic and edaphic factors have given rise to a range of grassland types. Steep, south facing slopes, with very shallow rendzina soils and bare rock outcrops, support the sheep’s Fescue/ Carline thistle Festuca ovina/ Carlina vulgaris type, in which the most frequent plants are wild thyme Thymus praecox, common rose Helianthemum nummularium, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum. The open nature of the community, with much bare and loose soil, is a result of heavy grazing and scorching in summer. Somerset hair grass Koeleria vallesiana, a national rarity restricted to a few Mendip Hills and dwarf sedge Carex humilis, a nationally scarce plant, are part of this community. On flat and gently sloping areas thin, free draining soils support the sheep’s fescue/ mouse ear hawkweed/ wild thyme Festuca ovina/ Pilosella officinarum/ Thymus praecox grassland type in which these species form the bulk of cover in open and closed swards. The crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha sub community is present at Shiplate and other characteristic plants common here are fairy flax Linum catharticum, thyme leaved Sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia and the nationally scarce spring cinquefoil Potentilla tabernaemontani. There are mosaics of this community and gorse Ulex europaeus dominated heathy vegetation. Gorse tends to form dense stands, while heather Calluna vulgaris and bell heather Erica cinerea remain as small, prostrate plants within the grassland. The deeper soils support the sheep’s fescue/ meadow oat grass Festuca ovina/ Avenula pratensis community which forms a closed sward. Characteristic plants include quaking grass Briza media, glaucous sedge Carex flacca, crested hair grass, wild thyme and small scabious Scabiosa columbaria. This community is represented by two variants, one characterised by dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and Squinancywort Asperula cynanchica and another with particularly high cover of dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, common rose and salad burnet. Tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum grassland occurs mainly on deeper, moister soil at the base of slopes and woodland edges. Tor grass often dominates and the small herbs common in other communities are rare in this rank grassland. Scrub forms a gradual transition between the grassland and woodland and includes hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, privet Ligustrum vulgare, wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana, traveller’s joy Clematis vitalba and black bryony Tamus communis. Vegetation around the scrub is not as heavily grazed as the open grassland and supports a taller community of plants such as common calamint Calamintha ascendens, marjoram Origanum vulgare, basil thyme Acinos arvensis, hairy St John’s wort Hypericum hirsutum and false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum. The woodland canopy is ash dominated with a discontinuous shrub layer of hawthorn, bramble Rubus sp., field maple Acer campestre and hazel Corylus avellina. The groundlayer is dominated by dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and has stinking iris Iris foetidissima, spurge laurel Daphne laureola and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta. Other habitats present are small stands of bracken Pteridium aquilinum on the mudstone and patches of common nettle Urtica dioica in a dry valley bottom.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites
Latin name
search with Google
IUCN / Red List Type Family
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum LC grass poaceae
wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum LC grass poaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
crested hair-grass Koeleria macrantha NT grass poaceae
Somerset hair grass Koeleria vallesiana EN grass poaceae
basil thyme Acinos arvensis Not listed in GB list herb lamiaceae
thyme leaved sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia LC herb carophyllaceae
squinancywort Asperula cynanchica VU herb rubiaceae
carline thistle Carlina vulgaris LC herb asteraceae
dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule VU herb asteraceae
dropwort Filipendula vulgaris LC herb rosaceae
rock roses Helianthemum nummularium VU herb cistaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
hairy St John's wort Hypericum hirsutum LC herb hypericaceae
stinking iris Iris foetidissima LC herb iridaceae
fairy flax Linum catharticum LC herb linaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
wild marjoram Origanum vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
mouse_ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum LC herb asteraceae
spring cinquefoil Potentilla tabernaemontani Not listed in GB list herb rosaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
small scabious Scabiosa columbaria LC herb caprifoliaceae
creeping thyme Thymus praecox Not listed in GB list herb lamiaceae
nettle Urtica dioica LC herb urticaceae
black bryony Tamus communis LC herb climber dioscoreaceae
glaucus sedge Carex flacca LC sedge cyperaceae
dwarf sedge Carex humilis LC sedge cyperaceae
traveller's joy Clematis vitalba LC shrub ranunculaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
spurge laurel Daphne laureola LC shrub thymelaeaceae
wild privet Ligustrum vulgare LC shrub oleaceae
gorse Ulex europaeus LC shrub leguminosae
wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana LC shrub caprifoliaceae
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
bell heather Erica cinerea NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
field maple Acer campestre LC tree aceraceae

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
Straw belle
Aspitates gilvaria
Endangered Linum catharticum
Chequered skipper
Carterocephalus palaemon
Endangered Brachypodium sylvaticum
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp.
Maple pug
Eupithecia inturbata
Endangered Acer campestre
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna
Shoulder-striped clover
Heliothis maritima
Endangered Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Crataegus spp.
Least minor
Photedes captiuncula
Endangered Carex flacca
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Poterium sanguisorba
Northern brown
Aricia artaxerxes
Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Viburnum lantana
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Pteridium aquilinum
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Acer campestre, Crataegus spp.
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Scabiosa columbaria
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Helianthemum nummularium, Hypericum spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Brachypodium sylvaticum, Festuca ovina
True lover's knot
Lycophotia porphyrea
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Helianthemum nummularium, Ulex spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Poterium sanguisorba
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Ulex europaeus
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna, Erica cinerea
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Urtica dioica
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Pteridium aquilinum, Urtica dioica
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Grey scalloped
Dyscia fagaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Crataegus spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Festuca ovina, Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus 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 Brachypodium sylvaticum
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Carex flacca, Festuca ovina, Iris foetidissima

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 14 species from the description above: Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Clematis vitalba, Crataegus monogyna, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Iris foetidissima, Ligustrum vulgare, Mercurialis perennis, Origanum vulgare, Poterium sanguisorba, Pteridium aquilinum, Tamus communis, Urtica dioica, 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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 7 species from the description above: Acer campestre, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Ulex europaeus, Urtica dioica

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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 6 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Ulex europaeus, Urtica dioica

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 4 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Carex flacca, Festuca ovina, Thymus praecox

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