Claxby Chalk Pit

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.2227, 0.1706

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TF450717 Favourable 2.13 2009-07-14

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Rock Type: Chalk

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
pied wagtail Breeding
spotted flycatcher Breeding
woodcock Breeding

Description

Area, 2.2 ha. 5.4 ac. Description A particularly fine example of Lincolnshire Wolds chalk grassland, which only survives in disused quarries or on steep, unploughable slopes. Since this grassland is in the context of an old chalk pit, its value is increased for it represents a stage within the process of continuous changes from grassland through to scrub and broad leaved woodland. Biology The grassland is dominated by characteristic chalk downland species, upright brome Bromus erectus and red fescue Festuca rubra with meadow oak Avenula pratensis, tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum and quaking grass Briza media locally common. Within this sward are numerous herbs each abundant dependent upon the very high levels of calciumin the soil; examples are marjoram Origanum vulgare, hawkweed oxtongue Picris hieracioides, wild basil Clinopodium vulgare, wild carrot Daucus carota and perforate St John’s wort Hypericum perforatum. Four orchid species occur bee Ophrys apifera, pyramidal Anacamptis pyramidalis, common spotted Dactylorhiza fuchsii and twayblade Neottia ovata. The hawthorn and blackthorn scrub has abundant wild rose Rosa canina. The areas of woodland to the south and fringing the quarry to the east and west are dominated by beech Fagus sylvatica and ash Fraxinus excelsior with some pedunculate oak Quercus robur and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. In the ground flora dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis is locally dominant with violets Viola spp, primrose Primula vulgaris and toothwort Lathraea squamaria. Breeding birds include spotted flycatcher, tawny owl and pied wagtail. Woodcock occurs. Both pipistrelle and long eared bats are regularly seen.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
tawny owl Strix aluco NT (Breeding) bird-owl strigidae
spotted flycatcher Muscicapa striata LC (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
pied wagtail Motacilla alba LC (Breeding) bird-wagtail motacillidae
meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis Not listed in GB list 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
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis LC herb orchidaceae
wild basil Clinopodium vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
spotted orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii LC herb orchidaceae
wild carrot Daucus carota LC herb apiaceae
perforated St John's wort Hypericum perforatum LC herb hypericaceae
toothwort Lathraea squamaria LC herb orobanchaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
common twayblade Neottia ovata NT herb orchidaceae
bee orchid Ophrys apifera LC herb orchidaceae
wild marjoram Origanum vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
hawkweed ox-tongue Picris hieracioides LC herb asteraceae
primrose Primula vulgaris LC herb primulaceae
dog-rose Rosa canina LC herb rosaceae
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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Black-veined moth
Siona lineata
Critically Endangered Origanum vulgare
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Rosa spp.
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula vulgaris
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Rosa spp.
Sussex emerald
Thalera fimbrialis
Endangered Daucus carota
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Rosa canina
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Rosa canina
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Hypericum spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Festuca rubra
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Quercus spp., Rosa canina
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Rosa spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Rosa canina
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Quercus spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
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, Quercus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
White-spotted pug
Eupithecia tripunctaria
Near Threatened Daucus carota
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Swallowtail papilio
Papilio machaon
Near Threatened Daucus carota
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

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 8 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Brachypodium pinnatum, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Mercurialis perennis, Origanum vulgare, Quercus robur, Rosa canina

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 3 species from the description above: Festuca rubra, Mercurialis perennis, Rosa canina

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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 1 species from the description above: Festuca rubra

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