King's Play Hill

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.3921, -1.9915

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SU006658 Favourable 28.79 2011-09-22

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Description King's Play Hill is a botanically rich example of upright brome Bromus erectus dominated chalk grassland and supports both locally and nationally rare species. Subsidiary areas of species rich scrub add to the interest. The site occupies a predominantly north west facing scarp of Lower Chalk, with some Middle Chalk at the summit. The steep slopes are dissected by minor dry valleys resulting in varied topography and aspect. The turf is closely grazed and dominated by upright brome with widespread sheep's fescue Festuca ovina and downy oat grass Avenula pubescens. Also present is heath grass Danthonia decumbens which is rare on the chalk in north Wiltshire. Tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum occurs locally in the southern part of the site. The sward is characterised by an abundance of herbs typical of chalk grassland, including dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and squinancywort Asperula cynanchica. Lesser butterfly orchid Platanthera bifolia, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and early purple orchid Orchis mascula are also frequent. Species of nationally restricted distribution include round headed rampion Phyteuma orbiculare, bastard toad flax Thesium humifusum and field fleawort Senecio integrifolius. The summit of King's Play Hill is dominated by a small clump of mature beech Fagus sylvatica, surrounded by natural regeneration of ash Fraxinus excelsior and whitebeam Sorbus aria. There are pockets of dense mixed scrub scattered over the site, especially in the sheltered dry valleys. The scrub includes privet Ligustrum vulgare, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, blackthorn Prunus spinosa, elder Sambucus nigra, wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana, holly Ilex aquifolium and the uncommon juniper Juniperus communis. A diverse community of insects is associated with the chalk grassland, including the wood tiger moth Parasemia plantaginis and the chalkhill blue Polyommatus coridon and marbled white Melanargia galatheaa butterflies. An uncommon plant bug Canthophorus impressus has also been recorded. Both foxes and badgers occur commonly on the site.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
bastard toadflax bug Canthophorus impressus LC bug cydnidae
chalkhill blue Polyommatus coridon VU butterfly lycaenidae
downy oat grass Avenula pubescens LC grass poaceae
tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum LC grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
heath grass Danthonia decumbens NT grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
squinancywort Asperula cynanchica VU herb rubiaceae
dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule VU herb asteraceae
fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea NT herb orchidaceae
horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa VU herb fabaceae
early purple orchid Orchis mascula LC herb orchidaceae
round headed rampion Phyteuma orbiculare LC herb campanulaceae
lesser butterfly orchid Platanthera bifolia VU herb orchidaceae
chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea VU herb polygalaceae
small scabious Scabiosa columbaria LC herb caprifoliaceae
field fleawort Senecio integrifolius Not listed in GB list herb asteraceae
devils-bit scabious Succisa pratensis VU herb caprifoliaceae
bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum VU herb santalaceae
wood tiger Parasemia plantaginis Not listed in GB list moth erebidae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
juniper Juniperus communis CR shrub cupressaceae
wild privet Ligustrum vulgare LC shrub oleaceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
elder Sambucus nigra LC shrub caprifoliaceae
wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana LC shrub caprifoliaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
whitebeams Sorbus aria CR tree rosaceae

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
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Prunus spinosa
Black hairstreak
Satyrium pruni
Endangered Prunus spinosa
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Viburnum lantana
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Prunus spinosa
Dingy skipper
Erynnis tages
Vulnerable Hippocrepis comosa
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Scabiosa columbaria, Succisa pratensis
Juniper pug
Eupithecia pusillata
Vulnerable Juniperus communis, Juniperus spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Festuca ovina
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Hippocrepis comosa
Brown hairstreak
Thecla betulae
Vulnerable Prunus spinosa
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Prunus spinosa
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Fagus sylvatica
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
White-spotted pug
Eupithecia tripunctaria
Near Threatened Sambucus nigra
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
Silver-spotted skipper
Hesperia comma
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina

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 11 species from the description above: Brachypodium pinnatum, Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Ilex aquifolium, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Prunus spinosa, Sambucus nigra, Sorbus aria, Viburnum lantana

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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 2 species from the description above: Festuca ovina, Succisa pratensis

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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 1 species from the description above: Prunus spinosa

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