Sked Dale
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE968748 | — | Favourable | 0.84 | 2009-08-14 |
| SE968750 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 3.02 | 2014-08-07 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Description The site comprises a small south west facing side dale together with adjacent roadside banks in Sked Dale. Despite the invasion of scrub and coarse grasses following cessation of grazing by stock many years ago, a species rich chalk grassland turf persists where the soils are thin and rabbit grazing is heavy. Such areas occur at the western end of the south facing slope, in and to the south west of Sked Dale Chalk Pit and in the pit on the western road verge. In these areas sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha and quaking grass Briza media are important components of the vegetation, accompanied by such herbs as clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata, pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris. On the south facing slopes opposite the Chalk Pit, a colony of perennial flax Linum perenne spp anglicum occurs at one of only three known sites in the Yorkshire Wolds. The scrub and coarse grasses comprise hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and gorse Ulex europaeus with false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius and cock's foot Dactylis glomerata. Locally within the coarse grassland, a richer flora survives with greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, field scabious Knautia arvensis, rock rose and lady's bedstraw Galium verum. Other Information During the 1984 revision the boundary has been greatly reduced to exclude plantation woodland in which the nature conservation interest has largely been lost. * Under Section 23 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| false oat grass | Arrhenatherum elatius | LC | grass | poaceae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| cock's foot | Dactylis glomerata | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sheep's fescue | Festuca ovina | LC | grass | poaceae |
| crested hair-grass | Koeleria macrantha | NT | grass | poaceae |
| pyramidal orchid | Anacamptis pyramidalis | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| clustered bellflower | Campanula glomerata | VU | herb | campanulaceae |
| greater knapweed | Centaurea scabiosa | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| dropwort | Filipendula vulgaris | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| lady's bedstraw | Galium verum | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| rock roses | Helianthemum nummularium | VU | herb | cistaceae |
| field scabious | Knautia arvensis | LC | herb | caprifoliaceae |
| perennial flax | Linum perenne | VU | herb | linaceae |
| hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| gorse | Ulex europaeus | LC | shrub | leguminosae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp. |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Crataegus spp. |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| Northern brown Aricia artaxerxes |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Centaurea scabiosa, Knautia arvensis |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp., Galium spp., Helianthemum nummularium |
| White-line dart Euxoa tritici |
Vulnerable | Galium verum |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca ovina |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Helianthemum nummularium, Ulex spp. |
| Lead belle Scotopteryx mucronata |
Vulnerable | Ulex europaeus |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Large nutmeg Apamea anceps |
Near Threatened | Dactylis glomerata |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Festuca spp. |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina, Galium spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Centaurea spp., Crataegus monogyna |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp. |
| Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Silky wave Idaea dilutaria |
Near Threatened | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea scabiosa |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Dactylis glomerata |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca ovina |
| 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 3 species from the description above: Arrhenatherum elatius, Crataegus monogyna, Dactylis glomerata
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
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 2 species from the description above: Dactylis glomerata, Ulex europaeus
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
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Matches 1 species from the description above: Festuca ovina
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