Great Yews
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SU119231 | — | Favourable | 29.09 | 2011-09-26 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Area, 29.3 ha. 72.3 ac. Description Yew woodland is a nationally rare habitat and great Yews represents one of the two best examples in Wiltshire. It includes an extensive area of almost pure yew Taxus baccata and contains many large individual trees. It is situated on the Upper Chalk south of Salisbury. It is unusual in lying on gently sloping ground most yew woods being on steep slopes and also in having a long history as an area of yew. In particular the land is marked as 'Yew Bushes' on the Andrews and Drury map of Wiltshire, published in 1773. Many of the trees are believed to be over 200 years old. In 1955 about 300 individuals had a girth of over 3.0 metres and 16 of over 4.6 metres. There has been no recent resurvey but neither has there been any extensive felling. Yew regeneration appears absent within the wood but some younger specimens are found in the scrub on the northern boundary. It is generally thought that yew woods arise from such scrub and, after a long period, may progressively develop into broadleaved woodland. Scattered amongst the yews are isolated mature ash Fraxinus excelsior and pedunculate oak Quercus robur with the occasional whitebeam Sorbus aria and patches of ash regeneration. Shrubs are very sparse under the yews but dense, species rich scrub occurs on the edges of the wood. hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and blackthorn Prunus spinosa are common with frequent spindle Euonymus europaeus, holly Ilex aquifolium and privet Ligustrum vulgare. Few herbaceous plants exist beneath the yews but a number occur under the broadleaved trees and alongside the rides. These include nettle leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium, woodruff Galium odoratum and early purple orchid Orchis mascula. Ferns are well represented and include common and scaly male fern Dryopteris filix-mas and Dryopteris affinis, broad and narrow buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata and Dryopteris carthusiana and polypody Polypodium vulgare. Two glades, in the north and east of the wood, contain areas of herb rich rabbit grazed chalk grassland, with abundant chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, glaucous and spring sedges Carex flacca and Carex caryophyllea and occasional kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria and common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium. In the eastern glade the grassland merges into a small area of heather Calluna vulgaris and tormentil Potentilla erecta. Little is known of the invertebrates of the site but the abundant yew berries are an important food source for a variety of birds, bullfinch, greenfinch, redwing and fieldfare have been seen in large numbers.
Species mentioned
Show the 28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| greenfinch | Chloris chloris | EN (Breeding) | bird-finch | fringillidae |
| bullfinch | Pyrrhula pyrrhula | LC (Breeding) | bird-finch | fringillidae |
| redwing | Turdus iliacus | LC (NonBreeding), CR (Breeding) | bird-thrush | turdidae |
| fieldfare | Turdus pilaris | LC (NonBreeding), CR(PE) (Breeding) | bird-thrush | turdidae |
| scaly male-fern | Dryopteris affinis | LC | fern | dryopteridaceae |
| narrow buckler fern | Dryopteris carthusiana | LC | fern | dryopteridaceae |
| broad buckler fern | Dryopteris dilatata | LC | fern | dryopteridaceae |
| male fern | Dryopteris filix-mas | LC | fern | dryopteridaceae |
| polypody | Polypodium vulgare | LC | fern | polypodiaceae |
| lady's fingers (kidney vetch) | Anthyllis vulneraria | NT | herb | fabaceae |
| nettle leaved bellflower | Campanula trachelium | LC | herb | campanulaceae |
| woodruff | Galium odoratum | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| rock roses | Helianthemum nummularium | VU | herb | cistaceae |
| early purple orchid | Orchis mascula | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| chalk milkwort | Polygala calcarea | VU | herb | polygalaceae |
| tormentil | Potentilla erecta | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| spring-sedge | Carex caryophyllea | NT | sedge | cyperaceae |
| glaucus sedge | Carex flacca | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
| hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| spindle tree | Euonymus europaeus | LC | shrub | celastraceae |
| wild privet | Ligustrum vulgare | LC | shrub | oleaceae |
| blackthorn | Prunus spinosa | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| bell heather or ling | Calluna vulgaris | NT | shrub dwarf | ericaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| holly | Ilex aquifolium | LC | tree | aquifoliaceae |
| common oak | Quercus robur | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| whitebeams | Sorbus aria | CR | tree | rosaceae |
| yew | Taxus baccata | LC | tree | taxaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus robur |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima |
Endangered | Calluna vulgaris |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Least minor Photedes captiuncula |
Endangered | Carex flacca |
| Black hairstreak Satyrium pruni |
Endangered | Prunus spinosa |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| Northern brown Aricia artaxerxes |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Galium spp., Helianthemum nummularium |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| True lover's knot Lycophotia porphyrea |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Helianthemum nummularium |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Potentilla erecta |
| Brown hairstreak Thecla betulae |
Vulnerable | Prunus spinosa |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus robur |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Prunus spinosa |
| Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Small blue Cupido minimus |
Near Threatened | Anthyllis vulneraria |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris, Galium spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Weaver's wave Idaea contiguaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Silky wave Idaea dilutaria |
Near Threatened | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Carex flacca |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Common fan-foot Pechipogo strigilata |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium 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.
Plant communities
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Matches 10 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna, Dryopteris filix-mas, Euonymus europaeus, Fraxinus excelsior, Ilex aquifolium, Ligustrum vulgare, Prunus spinosa, Quercus robur, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata
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
W13 — Yew wood
Taxus baccata woodland
Matches 8 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna, Euonymus europaeus, Fraxinus excelsior, Ilex aquifolium, Ligustrum vulgare, Quercus robur, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata
Show 37 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer campestre, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Buxus sempervirens, Sambucus nigra, Euonymus europaeus, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Crataegus monogyna, Mnium hornum, Fissidens viridulus, Brachythecium velutinum, Ctenidium molluscum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhynchostegium murale, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Tamus communis, Arum maculatum, Eupatorium cannabinum, Inula conyza, Mercurialis perennis, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Fragaria vesca, Rubus fruticosus agg., Atropa belladonna, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Brachypodium sylvaticum
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Matches 3 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Carex flacca, Dryopteris dilatata
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
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 2 species from the description above: Dryopteris filix-mas, Prunus spinosa
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