Parwich Moor
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK174579 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 15.87 | 2013-11-12 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Area, 15.45 ha. 38.2 ac. Description A small area of relict limestone heath consisting of a series of hummocks and hollows. The hummocks are of particular interest because of the evidence of sorting and rearrangement by frost and wind action. The hummocks are colonised by heather Calluna vulgaris and bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus with mat grass Nardus stricta and heath bedstraw Galium saxatile. These occur on top of a limestone substrate so that between the hummocks there is a typical damp, limestone grassland flora. Mosses and lichens on the hummocks indicate that this type of limestone heathland has not been subject to regular burning unlike many of the other remnant limestone heaths of the Peak District. This type of vegetation was once extensive in the Peak District but now is only found at this and one other site.
Species mentioned
Show the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mat grass | Nardus stricta | LC | grass | poaceae |
| heath bedstraw | Galium saxatile | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| billberry | Vaccinium myrtillus | LC | shrub | ericaceae |
| bell heather or ling | Calluna vulgaris | NT | shrub dwarf | ericaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Speckled footman Coscinia cribraria |
Critically Endangered | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima |
Endangered | Calluna vulgaris |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Galium spp. |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| True lover's knot Lycophotia porphyrea |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Hedge rustic Tholera cespitis |
Vulnerable | Nardus stricta |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Nardus stricta |
| Rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Small mountain ringlet Erebia epiphron |
Near Threatened | Nardus stricta |
| The Silurian Eriopygodes imbecilla |
Near Threatened | Galium saxatile, Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris, Galium spp. |
| Weaver's wave Idaea contiguaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| Scotch burnet Zygaena exulans |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
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.