Ryhall Pasture and Little Warren Verges

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.7115, -0.4890

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Lincolnshire CountyRutland County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable No Change (1) Favourable (1) Unfavourable Recovering (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TF011141 — Unfavourable No Change 0.89 2012-07-09
TF018138 — Favourable 1.77 2021-11-15
TF025136 — Unfavourable Recovering 0.86 2012-08-09
TF026135 — Unfavourable Recovering 2.72 2012-09-19

Habitats

Lowland meadow and pasture

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Area, 7.6 ha. 18.8 ac. 4.5 ha. Lincs 3.1 ha. Leics Description The site combines one of the best remaining examples of semi natural limestone grassland in Leicestershire with adjacent species rich road side verges in Lincolnshire. The grassland type is representative of swards developed on soft limestones in eastern and southern England. Biology Ryhall Pasture lies on a north west facing slope and has developed on soils derived from the Jurassic Upper Lincolnshire Limestone. The sward is characterised by the predominance of tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum, upright brome Bromus erectus and red fescue Festuca rubra, with quaking grass Briza media and cock’s foot Dactylis glomerata also frequent. The rich herb flora is notable for the abundance of such typical species as clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, cowslip Primula veris and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba. The adjoining roadside verge also exhibits a rich calcareous flora characterised by the abundance of knapweed Centaurea nigra and C. scabiosa and by the occurrence of such plant species as rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and the knapweed broomrape Orobanche elatior. Adjacent hedges are rich in shrub species and the site provides suitable habitat for a range of insect species characteristic of grassland and woodland edge.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum LC grass poaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
cock's foot Dactylis glomerata LC grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata VU herb campanulaceae
black knapweed Centaurea nigra LC herb asteraceae
greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa LC herb asteraceae
dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule VU herb asteraceae
rock roses Helianthemum nummularium VU herb cistaceae
tall broomrape Orobanche elatior LC herb orobanchaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae

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
Black-veined moth
Siona lineata		 Critically Endangered Centaurea nigra
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina		 Endangered Primula veris
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis		 Vulnerable Poterium sanguisorba
Northern brown
Aricia artaxerxes		 Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia		 Vulnerable Centaurea scabiosa
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata		 Vulnerable Centaurea spp., Helianthemum nummularium
Grayling
Hipparchia semele		 Vulnerable Festuca rubra
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus		 Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae		 Vulnerable Poterium sanguisorba
Large nutmeg
Apamea anceps		 Near Threatened Dactylis glomerata
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus		 Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata		 Near Threatened Centaurea spp.
Silky wave
Idaea dilutaria		 Near Threatened Helianthemum nummularium
Scarce forester
Jordanita globulariae		 Near Threatened Centaurea nigra, Centaurea scabiosa
Wall
Lasiommata megera		 Near Threatened Dactylis glomerata
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa		 Near Threatened Dactylis glomerata

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

MG5 — Lowland meadow and pasture, Traditional orchard

Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra grassland

Matches 6 species from the description above: Briza media, Centaurea nigra, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Poterium sanguisorba, Primula veris

Carex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Knautia arvensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Colchicum autumnale, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla vestita, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Chara curta

MG4 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture

Alopecurus pratensis-Sanguisorba officinalis grassland

Matches 5 species from the description above: Briza media, Centaurea nigra, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Primula veris

Carex acutiformis, Carex hirta, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium elatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Hypochaeris radicata, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Serratula tinctoria, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum arvense, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sepium, Fritillaria meleagris, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum flavum, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anglica, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Bromopsis erecta, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Chara curta

MG8 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture

Cynosurus cristatus-Caltha palustris grassland

Matches 4 species from the description above: Briza media, Centaurea nigra, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra

Carex demissa, Carex distans, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium rostratum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Achillea ptarmica, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum palustre, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Mentha aquatica, Euphrasia nemorosa, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Glyceria declinata, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Dryopteris expansa