Wilsford Heath Quarry
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK986413 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 16.19 | 2010-07-29 |
Habitats
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
Show the 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Species | Status | Via 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
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera 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
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix 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
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera 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