Crumpton Hill Wood
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO760488 | — | Favourable | 1.58 | 2009-11-27 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Area, 1.5 ha. 3.8 ac. Description This site is one of a series of woodlands occupying ridges of Wenlock Limestone to the north of the Malvern Hills. Crumpton Hill is an ancient broadleaved woodland which shows evidence of past management as coppice with standards. It is particularly rich in tree and shrub species having over 20 species recorded. The canopy is dominated by sessile oak Quercus petraea with small numbers of ash Fraxinus excelsior and downy birch Betula pubescens. The understorey is especially well developed and is remarkable for the abundance of wild service tree Sorbus torminalis. hazel Corylus avellana is also abundant, together with smaller amounts of holly Ilex aquifolium, wild privet Ligustrum vulgare, aspen Populus tremula, field maple Acer campestre, guelder rose Viburnum opulus and dogwood Cornus sanguinea. The ground flora is typical of base rich woodlands, with dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, woodruff Galium odoratum, sanicle Sanicula europaea and yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon. Of special importance is the presence of violet helleborine Epipactis purpurata a very scarce plant in Worcestershire.
Species mentioned
Show the 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| violet helleborine | Epipactis purpurata | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| woodruff | Galium odoratum | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| yellow archangel | Lamiastrum galeobdolon | LC | herb | lamiaceae |
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| sanicle | Sanicula europaea | LC | herb | apiaceae |
| dogwood | Cornus sanguinea | LC | shrub | cornaceae |
| wild privet | Ligustrum vulgare | LC | shrub | oleaceae |
| gelder rose | Viburnum opulus | LC | shrub | caprifoliaceae |
| field maple | Acer campestre | LC | tree | aceraceae |
| downy birch | Betula pubescens | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| holly | Ilex aquifolium | LC | tree | aquifoliaceae |
| aspen | Populus tremula | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| sessile or durmast oak | Quercus petraea | LC | tree | fagaceae |
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 petraea |
| Dark bordered beauty Epione vespertaria |
Endangered | Populus tremula |
| Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata |
Endangered | Acer campestre |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp. |
| Scarce chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta |
Vulnerable | Populus spp., Populus tremula |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer campestre, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus tremula, Quercus spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pubescens, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus petraea |
| No common name Zeugophora turneri |
Vulnerable | Populus tremula |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Purple emperor Apatura iris |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula |
| Minor shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Populus spp. |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Betula pubescens |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus spp., Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Galium spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus petraea |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| White prominent Leucodonta bicoloria |
Regionally Extinct | Betula 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.