Nine Spring Dale

Also within

North Yorkshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Area, 4.54 hectares 11.20 ac Description Nine Spring Dale supports species rich chalk grassland showing affinities with the southern type but with many northern species; it was formerly more extensive but is now confined to the eastern side of the dale. The sward is characterised by sheep's fescue Festuca ovina with meadow oat Avenula pratensis, crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha, carnation sedge Carex flacca and patches of tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum. Herbs present include frequent salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, hoary plantain Plantagomedia and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, together with less common species such as basil Origanum vulgare, saw wort Serratula tinctoria and clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata. The main floristic interest is the abundance of bloody crane's bill Geranium sanguineum and the blue flax Linum perenne. The grassland has been invaded by scattered bushes of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and a stand of gorse Ulex europaeus has become established. The site is of outstanding entomological interest with large numbers of species and individuals recorded. Locally distributed species worthy of note include the heteropterous bugs, Agallia consobrina, Laodelphax elegantulus and Stenodema calcarata and the weevil Squamapion atomarium. Other Information 1. This site is listed under the name 'Duggleby High Barn Wold' in 'A Nature Conservation Review' edited by D A Ratcliffe 1977, Cambridge University Press and was formerly notified as an SSSI under this name. 2. During the 1983 revision the boundary has been reduced to omit land where the nature conservation interest has been substantially reduced. * Under Section 23 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.

Species mentioned

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.

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.