Bowerchalke Downs
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST990230 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 8.28 | 2015-08-12 |
| ST991227 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 8.28 | 2015-08-12 |
| ST992223 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 8.28 | 2015-08-12 |
| SU003217 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 22.62 | 2010-05-21 |
| SU005223 | — | Favourable | 5.04 | 2009-06-08 |
| SU012219 | — | Favourable | 12.99 | 2015-11-11 |
| SU017217 | — | Favourable | 50.72 | 2014-07-21 |
| SU022225 | — | Favourable | 50.72 | 2014-07-21 |
| SU025227 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 34.47 | 2015-06-25 |
| SU034225 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 34.47 | 2015-06-25 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk, Limestone
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| buzzard | Unknown |
| kestrel | Unknown |
Description
Area, 128.6 ha. 317.7 ac. Description This site is an extensive area of floristically rich chalk grassland, a habitat which has become increasingly scarce due to agricultural intensification. It lies along an escarpment of the Middle Chalk overlooking the Ebble Valley in South Wiltshire and has slopes of several aspects. Present on the site are plant and animal species with a nationally restricted distribution. Most of the site comprises species rich turf in which sheep's fescue Festuca ovina and meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis are major components whilst quaking grass Briza media, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and cowslip Primula veris are widespread and frequent. Several species considered indicative of continuous management in the absence of fertilisers, herbicides and ploughing also occur throughout. These include clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and betony Betonica officinalis. There is, however, much variety within the vegetation and several species that are generally scattered in the turf such as glaucous sedge Carex flacca, spring sedge Carex caryophyllea, wild carrot Daucus carota and kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria show localised abundance. Over quite extensive areas dwarf sedge Carex humilis becomes dominant, a species largely restricted to the downs of south west Wiltshire and Dorset. Two other species with a localised national distribution are early gentian Gentianella anglica and musk orchid Herminium monorchis. The latter is found in an area particularly rich in orchids including pyramidal Anacamptis pyramidalis, bee Ophrys apifera, common spotted Dactylorhiza fuchsii, fragrant Gymnadenia conopsea and twayblade Neottia ovata. Where the sward has been more lightly grazed upright brome Bromus erectus, hairy oat grass Avenula pubescens, cock's foot Dactylis glomerata and false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius become more predominant. Associated with these are herbs such as yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa and common knapweed Centaurea nigra as well as species common to the whole site like salad burnet and cowslip. In these areas there are also colonies of meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulataa and small populations of both greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha and adder's tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum. Scrub is scattered on some of the slopes becoming dense in one or two places. There is a diversity of shrub and tree species; hawthorn, blackthorn, wayfaring tree, gorse, whitebeam, hazel and ash. Ant hills produced by the yellow meadow ant Lasius flavus are a feature of several slopes. The grassland supports a variety of butterfly species including dingy skipper, dark green fritillary and common blue. The Adonis blue is also found where its larval food plant, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa grows in favourable conditions. In Britain this butterfly is confined to a limited number of chalk and limestone grassland sites in the south. Birds typical of this habitat include skylark, corn bunting, yellowhammer and grey partridge. Both green and great spotted woodpecker visit the site to feed and buzzard and kestrel hunt the area.
Species mentioned
Show the 40 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusInsects 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 | Centaurea nigra |
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula veris |
| Least minor Photedes captiuncula |
Endangered | Carex flacca |
| Sussex emerald Thalera fimbrialis |
Endangered | Daucus carota |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Poterium sanguisorba |
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Hippocrepis comosa |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Centaurea scabiosa, Scabiosa columbaria |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp., Rhinanthus minor |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca ovina |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Hippocrepis comosa |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Poterium sanguisorba |
| Large nutmeg Apamea anceps |
Near Threatened | Dactylis glomerata |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Festuca spp. |
| Small blue Cupido minimus |
Near Threatened | Anthyllis vulneraria |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Betonica officinalis, Centaurea spp. |
| White-spotted pug Eupithecia tripunctaria |
Near Threatened | Daucus carota |
| Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea nigra, Centaurea scabiosa |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Dactylis glomerata |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Arrhenatherum elatius, Carex flacca, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca ovina |
| Swallowtail papilio Papilio machaon |
Near Threatened | Daucus carota |
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
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Matches 4 species from the description above: Carex flacca, Dactylorhiza viridis, Festuca ovina, Rhinanthus minor
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix 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
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Matches 3 species from the description above: Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Poterium sanguisorba
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera 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 1 species from the description above: Dactylis glomerata
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera 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