Clearbury Down

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.0152, -1.7850

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SU151240 Favourable 31.13 2010-07-23

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
blackcap Breeding
whitethroat Breeding

Description

Area, 31.3 ha. 77.3 ac. Description Clearbury Down is an outstanding area of herb rich chalk grassland and scrub lying south of Salisbury on the Upper Chalk. The turf is an intimate mixture of grasses and herbs and is an example of Festuca ovina Avenula pratensis sheep's fescue meadow oat grass grassland on gentle slopes of mostly south to south west aspect. The presence of this large area of botanically rich grassland on shallow, potentially ploughable slopes is unusual and of particular interest. Many species of grass and sedge are widespread, including quaking grass Briza media, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus, upright brome Bromus erectus, glaucous sedge Carex flacca and spring sedge Carex caryophyllea. Dwarf sedge Carex humilis, a nationally restricted species, is found on the lower regions of the south facing slopes. Typical downland herbs such as devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba are frequent. Abundant cowslips Primula veris and horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa give the down a yellow hue at varying times of the year. Noteworthy species which occur are field fleawort Senecio integrifolius and bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum. Large numbers of the green winged orchid Anacamptis morio and burnt orchid O. ustulata cover parts of the down in the summer. Amongst several other orchids recorded are early purple orchid O. mascula and autumn lady's tresses Spiranthes spiralis. Numerous ant hills are a feature of the site. They support their own characteristic flora in which creeping species including ladies bedstraw Galium verum, rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and wild thyme Thymus praecox often dominate with occasional annuals such as common whitlow grass Erophila verna and early forget-me-not Myosotis ramosissima. Scrub has colonised much of the southern part of the site particularly to the southwest where dense mature scrub includes hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, spindle Euonymus europaeus and blackthorn Prunus spinosa and forms a complex habitat mosaic with patches of species rich grassland. Woodland plants that exist under the scrub include enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana and carpets of moschatel Adoxa moschatellina. Gorse Ulex europaeus is frequent throughout the scrub on the rest of the site and other species include buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica and wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana. Knowledge of the down's fauna is limited, however, typical downland butterflies include the chalkhill blue Polyommatus coridon, marbled white Melanargia galathea and small heath Coenonympha pamphilus. The nationally restricted plant bug Canthophorus impressus which feeds on bastard toadflax has also been recorded. The mixed scrub habitat contributes to the value of the site for invertebrates and provides breeding areas for a variety of birds such as whitethroat, blackcap, linnet and yellowhammer.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites
Latin name
search with Google
IUCN / Red List Type Family
linnet Linaria cannabina EN (Breeding) bird fringillidae
yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella LC (Breeding) bird-bunting emberizidae
blackcap Sylvia atricapilla LC (Breeding) bird-warbler sylviidae
whitethroat Sylvia communis Not listed in GB list bird-warbler sylviidae
bastard toadflax bug Canthophorus impressus LC bug cydnidae
small heath Coenonympha pamphilus VU butterfly nymphalidae
marbled white Melanargia galathea LC butterfly nymphalidae
chalkhill blue Polyommatus coridon VU butterfly lycaenidae
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
crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus LC grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
moschatel Adoxa moschatellina LC herb adoxaceae
green-winged orchid Anacamptis morio NT herb orchidaceae
enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana LC herb onagraceae
dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule VU herb asteraceae
Whitlow grasses Erophila verna LC herb brassicaceae
lady's bedstraw Galium verum LC herb rubiaceae
rock roses Helianthemum nummularium VU herb cistaceae
horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa VU herb fabaceae
early forget-me-not Myosotis ramosissima LC herb boraginaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
field fleawort Senecio integrifolius Not listed in GB list herb asteraceae
autumn lady's tresses Spiranthes spiralis LC herb orchidaceae
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
spring-sedge Carex caryophyllea NT sedge cyperaceae
glaucus sedge Carex flacca LC sedge cyperaceae
dwarf sedge Carex humilis LC sedge cyperaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
spindle tree Euonymus europaeus LC shrub celastraceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica LC shrub rhamnaceae
gorse Ulex europaeus LC shrub leguminosae
wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana LC shrub caprifoliaceae

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., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Rhamnus cathartica
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula veris
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
Least minor
Photedes captiuncula
Endangered Carex flacca
Black hairstreak
Satyrium pruni
Endangered Prunus spinosa
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Poterium sanguisorba
Northern brown
Aricia artaxerxes
Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Viburnum lantana
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
Dingy skipper
Erynnis tages
Vulnerable Hippocrepis comosa
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Succisa pratensis
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Galium spp., Helianthemum nummularium
White-line dart
Euxoa tritici
Vulnerable Galium verum
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Festuca ovina
Bedstraw hawk-moth
Hyles gallii
Vulnerable Galium spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Rhamnus cathartica
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium, Hippocrepis comosa, Ulex spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Poterium sanguisorba
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Ulex europaeus
Brown hairstreak
Thecla betulae
Vulnerable Prunus spinosa
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Prunus spinosa
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca spp.
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina, Galium spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
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
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Near Threatened Galium 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.

Plant communities

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 7 species from the description above: Circaea lutetiana, Crataegus monogyna, Euonymus europaeus, Poterium sanguisorba, Prunus spinosa, Rhamnus cathartica, Viburnum lantana

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 4 species from the description above: Carex flacca, Festuca ovina, Succisa pratensis, Thymus praecox

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 2 species from the description above: Prunus spinosa, 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