Upware North Pit

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.3315, 0.2651

Also within

Cambridgeshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TL544727 Unfavourable Recovering 1.08 2011-03-14

Description

Area, 1.1 hectares 2.7 ac Description The freshwater habitats hold one of the only two native British localities for the water germander Teucrium scordium, a plant listed in the British Red Data Book 1. In addition, the pits are of generalvalue for the wetland communities represented and some other uncommon plants are recorded. The site consists of a series of small flooded pits divided by bunds colonised by willow Salix spp. and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. The pools contain a large amount of emergent vegetation including stands of common reed Phragmites australis and greater pond sedge Carex riparia. Among some of the more uncommon species to be found are the great water dock Rumex hydrolapathum and the saw sedge Cladium mariscus. 1 Perring, F. H. and Farrell, L. 1983. British Red Data Books, 1 Vascular Plants 2nd Edition. Lincoln, Royal Society for Nature Conservation.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
common reed Phragmites australis LC grass poaceae
water dock Rumex hydrolapathum NT herb polygonaceae
water germander Teucrium scordium EN herb lamiaceae
greater pond sedge Carex riparia LC sedge cyperaceae
great fen-sedge Cladium mariscus LC sedge cyperaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae

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
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Crataegus spp., Rumex hydrolapathum
Fiery clearwing
Pyropteron chrysidiformis
Endangered Rumex hydrolapathum
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Rumex spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
Garden dart
Euxoa nigricans
Vulnerable Rumex spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Rumex spp.
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Rumex spp.
White-mantled wainscot
Archanara neurica
Near Threatened Phragmites australis
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Rumex spp.
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Rumex spp.
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Crataegus spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Rumex spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus spp.
Reed leopard
Phragmataecia castaneae
Near Threatened Phragmites australis
Fenn's wainscot
Protarchanara brevilinea
Near Threatened Phragmites australis
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Near Threatened Rumex spp.

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.