Abbotsbury Castle

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.6740, -2.6201

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (3)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SY555865 Unfavourable Recovering 14.03 2012-10-30
SY560862 Unfavourable Recovering 10.0 2012-10-30
SY565862 Unfavourable Recovering 11.04 2012-10-30

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Greensand

Description

Abbotsbury Castle SSSI Description A narrow ridge of Greensand with a capping of Clay with Flints holding very interesting associations of plants characteristic of acid soils and uncommon in this part of Dorset. The lower slopes below the hill fort have swards dominated by sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum and common bent-grass Agrostis capillaris. On the steeper parts, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, bristle bent Agrostis curtisii and wavy hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa are the major constituents of the turf and ling Calluna vulgaris, bell heather Erica cinerea, bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, heath bedstraw Galium saxatile and wood sage Teucrium scorodonia are scattered. Substantial areas of the slopes are covered by scrub, mainly western gorse Ulex gallii with common gorse Ulex europaeus, bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. and broom Cytisus scoparius, but in the east the slopes of Wears Hill have dense stands of bracken Pteridium aquilinum and abundant bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta. On low-lying ground immediately south of the castle there are small patches of soft rush Juncus effusus and flote-grass Glyceria fluitans where star sedge Carex echinata, low sedge Carex demissa, carnation-grass Carex panicea and cotton-grass Eriophorum angustifolium also occur. Abbotsbury Castle supports a lichen flora typical of acid substrates including Coelocaulon aculeatum, Peltigera polydactyla, Rhizocarpon obscuratum and Usnea flammea, some of which are uncommon.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
common bent Agrostis capillaris LC grass poaceae
bristle bent Agrostis curtisii LC grass poaceae
sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum LC grass poaceae
wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
floating sweet grass Glyceria fluitans LC grass poaceae
heath bedstraw Galium saxatile LC herb rubiaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. Not listed in GB list herb rosaceae
wood sage Teucrium scorodonia LC herb lamiaceae
no common name Coelocaulon aculeatum Not listed in GB list lichen no common name
no common name Peltigera polydactyla Not listed in GB list lichen no common name
no common name Rhizocarpon obscuratum Not listed in GB list lichen rhizocarpaceae
coastal bushy beard lichen Usnea flammea LC lichen no common name
soft rush Juncus effusus LC rush juncaceae
common yellow sedge Carex demissa LC sedge cyperaceae
star sedge Carex echinata NT sedge cyperaceae
carnation sedge Carex panicea NT sedge cyperaceae
common cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium NT sedge cyperaceae
broom Cytisus scoparius LC shrub fabaceae
gorse Ulex europaeus LC shrub leguminosae
western gorse Ulex gallii LC shrub leguminosae
billberry Vaccinium myrtillus LC shrub ericaceae
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
bell heather Erica cinerea NT shrub dwarf ericaceae

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
Speckled footman
Coscinia cribraria
Critically Endangered Agrostis curtisii, Vaccinium myrtillus
Shoulder-striped clover
Heliothis maritima
Endangered Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Heath fritillary
Melitaea athalia
Endangered Teucrium scorodonia
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Rubus fruticosus
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus fruticosus, Vaccinium myrtillus
Large heath
Coenonympha tullia
Vulnerable Eriophorum angustifolium
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Vaccinium myrtillus
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Galium spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Agrostis curtisii, Festuca ovina
Bedstraw hawk-moth
Hyles gallii
Vulnerable Galium spp.
True lover's knot
Lycophotia porphyrea
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Rubus fruticosus
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Erica cinerea, Ulex spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Rubus fruticosus
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Vaccinium myrtillus
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Rubus fruticosus, Vaccinium myrtillus
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Pteridium aquilinum
Broom-tip chesias
Chesias rufata
Near Threatened Cytisus scoparius
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Agrostis spp., Festuca spp.
Rosy marsh moth
Coenophila subrosea
Near Threatened Eriophorum spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Grey scalloped
Dyscia fagaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
The Silurian
Eriopygodes imbecilla
Near Threatened Galium saxatile, Vaccinium myrtillus
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Erica cinerea, Festuca ovina, Galium spp., Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Silver-spotted skipper
Hesperia comma
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Weaver's wave
Idaea contiguaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Agrostis spp.
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Near Threatened Galium spp.
Scotch burnet
Zygaena exulans
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus

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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 8 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Galium saxatile, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Teucrium scorodonia, Ulex europaeus

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 7 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Calluna vulgaris, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Galium saxatile, Vaccinium myrtillus

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 6 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Teucrium scorodonia, 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

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 5 species from the description above: Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Juncus effusus, Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Teucrium scorodonia

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