Devil's Spittleful

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.3726, -2.2827

Also within

Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (2) Favourable (3)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO804750 Unfavourable Recovering 10.88 2013-09-30
SO807754 Favourable 15.96 2010-08-31
SO808752 Favourable 6.19 2010-08-31
SO809748 Favourable 64.07 2013-09-30
SO810752 Unfavourable Recovering 2.18 2013-09-30

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Sandstone

Landscape processes: Coastal

Description

Area, 98.4 ha. 243.1 ac. Description This site lies to the southwest of Kidderminster on extensive deposits of Bunter Sandstone. The thin acidic soils derived from these rocks support one of the largest remnants of lowland heathland in Worcestershire. The vegetation of the Devil’s Spittleful consists of a mosaic of dwarf shrub heath, scrub, bracken Pteridium aquilinum and acid woodland which is largely dominated by silver birch Betula pendula and pedunculate oak Quercus robur. The shrub/heath community is dominated by heather Calluna vulgaris and wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa with abundant bell heather Erica cinerea and western gorse Ulex gallii. Because of its scarcity in Worcestershire, this habitat supports a number of species with very restricted distributions in the county. These include heath dog violet Viola canina, sheep’s bit Jasione montana and buck’s horn plantain Plantago coronopus which is more common near the sea. Also present are annual knotted clover Trifolium striatum, small cudweed Logfia minima, early forget-me-not Myosotis ramosissima, bird’s foot Ornithopus perpusillus and annual knawel Scleranthus annuus. Of special interest is the presence of the rare grey hair grass Corynephorus canescens, a plant normally found on coastal sands in the East of England, which occurs here at its only known location in the county. In addition to the heathland the site includes small areas of unimproved acidic grassland dominated by wavy hair grass and common bent Agrostis capillaris, with viper’s bugloss Echium vulgare and moonwort Botrychium lunaria. The site supports a wide range of breeding birds and invertebrates, the latter includes the pearl bordered fritillary Boloria euphrosyne, purple hairstreak Favonius quercus, silver washed fritillary Argynnis paphia and the scarce micro moths Trichopteryx polycommata and Perconia strigillaria.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
silver-washed fritillary Argynnis paphia LC butterfly nymphalidae
pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria euphrosyne VU butterfly nymphalidae
purple hairstreak Favonius quercus LC butterfly lycaenidae
moonwort Botrychium lunaria VU fern ophioglossaceae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
common bent Agrostis capillaris LC grass poaceae
grey hair grass Corynephorus canescens NT grass poaceae
wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
viper's bugloss Echium vulgare LC herb asteraceae
sheep's bit Jasione montana VU herb campanulaceae
slender cudweed Logfia minima LC herb asteraceae
early forget-me-not Myosotis ramosissima LC herb boraginaceae
bird's foot Ornithopus perpusillus LC herb fabaceae
buck's-horn plantain Plantago coronopus LC herb plantaginaceae
annual knawel Scleranthus annuus DD herb carophyllaceae
knotted clover Trifolium striatum LC herb fabaceae
heath dog violet Viola canina EN herb violaceae
grass wave Perconia strigillaria Not listed in GB list moth geometridae
barred tooth-striped Trichopteryx polycommata Not listed in GB list moth geometridae
western gorse Ulex gallii LC shrub leguminosae
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
bell heather Erica cinerea NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
common oak Quercus robur 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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
High brown fritillary
Fabriciana adippe
Critically Endangered Viola canina
Pearl-bordered fritillary
Boloria euphrosyne
Endangered Viola canina
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
Shoulder-striped clover
Heliothis maritima
Endangered Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Glanville fritillary
Melitaea cinxia
Endangered Plantago coronopus
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Betula spp., Quercus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Betula spp., Quercus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Pteridium aquilinum
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Betula spp., Quercus spp.
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Plantago spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris
Garden dart
Euxoa nigricans
Vulnerable Plantago spp., Trifolium spp.
True lover's knot
Lycophotia porphyrea
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Quercus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Quercus spp.
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Ulex spp.
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Quercus spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Quercus spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Trifolium spp.
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Plantago spp., Pteridium aquilinum
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Latticed heath
Chiasmia clathrata
Near Threatened Trifolium spp.
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Agrostis spp.
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Grey scalloped
Dyscia fagaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Betula pendula
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Quercus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Quercus spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Plantago spp.
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Betula spp., Quercus spp.
Weaver's wave
Idaea contiguaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Agrostis spp.
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
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.

Plant communities

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Calluna vulgaris, Deschampsia flexuosa

Salix 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

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Betula pendula, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur

Hedera 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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 2 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Pteridium aquilinum

Hedera 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