Burcombe Down

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.0659, -1.9084

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SU065296 Favourable 45.58 2010-06-07

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Description Burcombe Down supports botanically rich, grazed, chalk grassland on a north facing scarp slope of the Middle Chalk and on the sides of a dry valley running south west to north east. Nationally restricted plant species are present in the turf. A flat topped spur separating the two areas supports a different grassland community with a higher nutrient status. The site supports a large number of chalk grassland plant species. Both sheep's fescue Festuca ovina and red fescue Festuca rubra are common in the sward and crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha, meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis, upright brome Bromus erectus and quaking grass Briza media are widespread. The glaucous sedge Carex flacca and spring sedge Carex caryophyllea also frequently occur but herbs make up a high proportion of the turf. The commoner species include salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, cowslip Primula veris, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium. Also present are devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and saw wort Serratula tinctoria, these being particularly characteristic of the chalk of south west Wiltshire. Several orchids have been recorded, including fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis and the rarer musk orchid Herminium monorchis. The nationally rare dwarf sedge Carex humilis, field fleawort Senecio integrifolius and bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum also occur. The spur between the two main downland areas supports a more nutrient rich sward. Here red fescue predominates with herb species such as burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, red clover Trifolium pratense and bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Herbs more typical of chalk grassland, such as harebell Campanula rotundifolia and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris also occur occasionally. The grassland supports a good range of annual and biennial plants which prefer more open turf. These include carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, eyebright Euphrasia nemorosa, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, fairy flax Linum catharticum and hound's tongue Cynoglossum officinale. Other species associated with lighter grazing include marjoram Origanum vulgare, wild basil Clinopodium vulgare, common valerian Valeriana officinalis, perforate St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum and yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor. Species rich scrub has developed on parts of the slope. This includes the shrubs hawthorn, spindle, buckthorn, wayfaring tree, privet and, as young trees, whitebeam, ash and holly. Of particular note are the scattered individuals of juniper Juniperus communis, a declining species which, in southern England, is almost entirely restricted to chalk downland. Patches of gorse also occur at the tops of the slopes. Anthills, constructed by the yellow meadow ant Lasius flavus, are conspicuous towards the bottom of certain slopes and support typical plants such as wild thyme Thymus praecox and common rock rose.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
yellow meadow ant Lasius flavus Not listed in GB list ant formicinae
meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
crested hair-grass Koeleria macrantha NT grass poaceae
squinancywort Asperula cynanchica VU herb rubiaceae
clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata VU herb campanulaceae
harebell Campanula rotundifolia LC herb campanulaceae
carline thistle Carlina vulgaris LC herb asteraceae
wild basil Clinopodium vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
hound's tongue Cynoglossum officinale LC herb boraginaceae
frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis VU herb orchidaceae
common eyebright Euphrasia nemorosa LC herb orobanchaceae
dropwort Filipendula vulgaris LC herb rosaceae
autumn gentian Gentianella amarella LC herb gentianaceae
fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea NT herb orchidaceae
rock roses Helianthemum nummularium VU herb cistaceae
musk orchid Herminium monorchis EN herb orchidaceae
horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa VU herb fabaceae
perforated St John's wort Hypericum perforatum LC herb hypericaceae
fairy flax Linum catharticum LC herb linaceae
birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus LC herb fabaceae
wild marjoram Origanum vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga NT herb apiaceae
chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea VU herb polygalaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor DD herb orobanchaceae
field fleawort Senecio integrifolius Not listed in GB list herb asteraceae
saw wort Serratula tinctoria VU herb asteraceae
devils-bit scabious Succisa pratensis VU herb caprifoliaceae
bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum VU herb santalaceae
creeping thyme Thymus praecox Not listed in GB list herb lamiaceae
red clover Trifolium pratense LC herb fabaceae
common valerian Valeriana officinalis LC herb caprifoliaceae
spring-sedge Carex caryophyllea NT sedge cyperaceae
glaucus sedge Carex flacca LC sedge cyperaceae
dwarf sedge Carex humilis LC sedge cyperaceae
juniper Juniperus communis CR shrub cupressaceae

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
Reddish buff
Acosmetia caliginosa
Critically Endangered Serratula tinctoria
Black-veined moth
Siona lineata
Critically Endangered Lotus corniculatus, Origanum vulgare
New forest
Zygaena viciae
Critically Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Straw belle
Aspitates gilvaria
Endangered Linum catharticum, Lotus corniculatus
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula veris
Wood white
Leptidea sinapis
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Least minor
Photedes captiuncula
Endangered Carex flacca
Slender scotch
Zygaena loti
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus, Poterium sanguisorba, Serratula tinctoria
Northern brown
Aricia artaxerxes
Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium
Dingy skipper
Erynnis tages
Vulnerable Hippocrepis comosa, Lotus corniculatus
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Succisa pratensis
Juniper pug
Eupithecia pusillata
Vulnerable Juniperus communis, Juniperus spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium, Hypericum spp., Rhinanthus minor
Garden dart
Euxoa nigricans
Vulnerable Trifolium spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium, Hippocrepis comosa, Lotus corniculatus
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Poterium sanguisorba
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Trifolium spp.
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Cynoglossum officinale
Latticed heath
Chiasmia clathrata
Near Threatened Trifolium spp.
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Pimpinella saxifraga
Silver-spotted skipper
Hesperia comma
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Silky wave
Idaea dilutaria
Near Threatened Helianthemum nummularium
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Carex flacca, Festuca ovina
Swallowtail papilio
Papilio machaon
Near Threatened Pimpinella saxifraga

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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 9 species from the description above: Campanula rotundifolia, Carex flacca, Dactylorhiza viridis, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Rhinanthus minor, Succisa pratensis, Thymus praecox, Valeriana officinalis

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

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Juniperus communis, Origanum vulgare, Poterium sanguisorba

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 1 species from the description above: Festuca rubra

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