Orchid Bank, Winslow Mill
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO624362 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 0.52 | 2021-07-07 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Silurian · Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Area, 0.485 ha. 1.2 ac. Description Orchid Bank, Winslow Mill is a steep south facing pasture lying on the Silurian limestone of the Woolhope Dome. The site is noted for the richness and variety of its vegetation, the calcareous nature of the soils and southerly aspect. The dominant grasses are red fescue Festuca rubra, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum and creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera, whilst glaucous sedge Carex flacca and spring sedge Carex caryophyllea are also abundant. The herbaceous flora contains a number of locally uncommon species such as milk vetch Astragalus glycyphyllos, green winged orchid Anacamptis morio, great butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha. Other orchid species include common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, twayblade Neottia ovata and early purple orchid Orchis mascula. The site is also noted for the presence of wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus.
Species mentioned
Show the 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| creeping bent | Agrostis stolonifera | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| green-winged orchid | Anacamptis morio | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| wild liquorice | Astragalus glycyphyllos | NT | herb | fabaceae |
| spotted orchids | Dactylorhiza fuchsii | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| wild daffodil | Narcissus pseudonarcissus | LC | herb | amaryllidaceae |
| common twayblade | Neottia ovata | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| early purple orchid | Orchis mascula | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| greater butterfly orchid | Platanthera chlorantha | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| spring-sedge | Carex caryophyllea | NT | sedge | cyperaceae |
| glaucus sedge | Carex flacca | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Least minor Photedes captiuncula |
Endangered | Carex flacca |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca rubra |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Festuca spp. |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp. |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Carex flacca |
| The blackneck Lygephila pastinum |
Near Threatened | Astragalus glycyphyllos, Astragalus 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.