Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE914434 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 4.08 | 2024-12-04 |
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Area, 4.037 hectares 9.98 ac Description Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit consists of a revegetated quarry of 3 hectares bounded to the south by a disused railway line and to the north by a nearly vertical quarry face some 10 metres high, above which is a further area of chalk grassland. The pit is noted for its chalk grassland flora and associated invertebrate fauna. The plant communities are dominated by tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum, although this is largely kept in check by management. The shallow chalk soil of the flat quarry floor supports a wide diversity of calcicolous herbs of which felwort Gentianella amarella and pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis are particularly abundant. Other species present include kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, quaking grass Briza media, fairy flax Linum catharticum, bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, rest-harrow Ononis repens and carline thistle Carlina vulgaris. The site has a particularly diverse butterfly fauna, with sixteen species recorded, including grayling, ringlet, meadow brown, common blue, dingy skipper and large skipper. Other Information 1. During the 1984 revision the boundary has been extended. 2. The site is managed as a nature reserve by the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Trust. * Under Section 23 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.
Species mentioned
Show the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tor grass | Brachypodium pinnatum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| pyramidal orchid | Anacamptis pyramidalis | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| lady's fingers (kidney vetch) | Anthyllis vulneraria | NT | herb | fabaceae |
| carline thistle | Carlina vulgaris | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| autumn gentian | Gentianella amarella | LC | herb | gentianaceae |
| fairy flax | Linum catharticum | LC | herb | linaceae |
| birdsfoot trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | LC | herb | fabaceae |
| common rest-harrow | Ononis repens | VU | herb | fabaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| New forest Zygaena viciae |
Critically Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria |
Endangered | Linum catharticum, Lotus corniculatus |
| Wood white Leptidea sinapis |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Slender scotch Zygaena loti |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus, Ononis spp. |
| Rest harrow Aplasta ononaria |
Near Threatened | Ononis repens |
| Small blue Cupido minimus |
Near Threatened | Anthyllis vulneraria |
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.