Wilsford Heath Quarry

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.9608, -0.5329

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Lincolnshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SK986413 Unfavourable Declining 16.19 2010-07-29

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Description A disused limestone quarry with semi natural deciduous woodland and species rich grassland. Biology Much of the site contains semi natural deciduous woodland dominated by oak Quercus robur, ash Fraxinus excelsior, beech Fagus sylvatica and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, with a shrub layerof hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, wild privet Ligustrum vulgare, buckthorn Rhamnuscatharticus and a variety of other species of shrub. The ground flora in the dense woodland is quitesparse with species such as male fern Dryopteris filix-mas and ground ivy Glechoma hederacea. Another important habitat is the limestone grassland with tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum and sheep's fescue Festuca ovina being typical grass species present. There is a variety of herbs in the grassland including bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, viper's bugloss Echium vulgare, silverweed Potentilla anserina and perforate St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum as well as a number of species now uncommon in the East Midlands and some orchids. Much of the quarried areas are dominated by scrub of hawthorn and ash.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
male fern Dryopteris filix-mas LC fern dryopteridaceae
tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum LC grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
viper's bugloss Echium vulgare LC herb asteraceae
autumn gentian Gentianella amarella LC herb gentianaceae
ground ivy Glechoma hederacea LC herb lamiaceae
perforated St John's wort Hypericum perforatum LC herb hypericaceae
birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus LC herb fabaceae
silverweed Potentilla anserina LC herb rosaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
wild privet Ligustrum vulgare LC shrub oleaceae
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae

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 Lotus corniculatus
New forest
Zygaena viciae
Critically Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Straw belle
Aspitates gilvaria
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna
Wood white
Leptidea sinapis
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp.
Slender scotch
Zygaena loti
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Lotus corniculatus, Poterium sanguisorba
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Acer pseudoplatanus, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp.
Dingy skipper
Erynnis tages
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Hypericum spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Festuca ovina
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp.
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Potentilla anserina, Poterium sanguisorba
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Acer pseudoplatanus, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Quercus spp.
Silver-spotted skipper
Hesperia comma
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Clay fan-foot
Paracolax tristalis
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Common fan-foot
Pechipogo strigilata
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Frosted green
Polyploca ridens
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Near Threatened Glechoma hederacea

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 10 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Brachypodium pinnatum, Crataegus monogyna, Dryopteris filix-mas, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Glechoma hederacea, Ligustrum vulgare, Poterium sanguisorba, Quercus robur

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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 1 species from the description above: Festuca ovina

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 1 species from the description above: Dryopteris filix-mas

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