Woodwalton Marsh
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL211812 | — | Favourable | 0.76 | 2011-07-08 |
Description
Area, 0.8 hectares 1.8 ac Description This area supports species rich neutral grassland developed on calcareous clay. This type of grassland community is restricted in its distribution to the south of the country and is now rare. It is exceptionally unusual for this part of Cambridgeshire. The community type is characterised by the presence of such species as red fescue Festuca rubra, quaking grass Briza media, knapweed Centaurea nigra and cowslip Primula veris. Other herbs include dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus and green winged orchid Anacamptis morio. The rare sulphur clover Trifolium ochroleucon has also been recorded.
Species mentioned
Show the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| green-winged orchid | Anacamptis morio | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| black knapweed | Centaurea nigra | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| dropwort | Filipendula vulgaris | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| cowslip | Primula veris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| pepper saxifrage | Silaum silaus | EN | herb | saxifragaceae |
| sulphur clover | Trifolium ochroleucon | EN | 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 | Centaurea nigra |
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula veris |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp. |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Trifolium spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca rubra |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Trifolium spp. |
| Latticed heath Chiasmia clathrata |
Near Threatened | Trifolium spp. |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Festuca spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Centaurea spp. |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea nigra |
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.