Collyweston Quarries
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TF003038 | — | Favourable | 6.61 | 2020-07-21 |
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Area, 6.32 hectares 15.6 ac Description An area of rough grassland on the site of a former limestone quarry representing the largest example of this type of vegetation in Northamptonshire. Grassland developed on the Jurassic Oolite series limestone is confined to the Cotswolds and a discreet part of the East Midlands. The sward is species rich, dominated by upright brome Bromus erectus and tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum with downy oat grass Avenula pubescens and quaking grass Briza media. Among the locally uncommon herbs present are Dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria, wild thyme Thymus polytrichus, rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris and clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata. Parts of the site are remarkable for the abundance of knapweed broomrape Orobanche elatior and pyramidal orchid Anacampestris pyramidalis. More than one hundred flowering plant species have been recorded from the site. Good populations of several species of butterfly and a characteristic invertebrate fauna are present. There are additional geological features of interest.
Species mentioned
Show the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| downy oat grass | Avenula pubescens | LC | grass | poaceae |
| tor grass | Brachypodium pinnatum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| upright brome | Bromus erectus | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| clustered bellflower | Campanula glomerata | VU | herb | campanulaceae |
| dropwort | Filipendula vulgaris | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| dyer's greenweed | Genista tinctoria | LC | herb | fabaceae |
| rock roses | Helianthemum nummularium | VU | herb | cistaceae |
| tall broomrape | Orobanche elatior | LC | herb | orobanchaceae |
| wild thyme | Thymus polytrichus | Not listed in GB list | herb | lamiaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Northern brown Aricia artaxerxes |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Lead belle Scotopteryx mucronata |
Vulnerable | Genista tinctoria |
| Silky wave Idaea dilutaria |
Near Threatened | Helianthemum nummularium |
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.