Butser Hill

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.9744, -0.9835

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (11) Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SU709200 Favourable 8.39 2020-10-30
SU711185 Favourable 17.98 2020-10-30
SU711187 Favourable 19.85 2020-10-30
SU711196 Favourable 30.68 2020-10-30
SU712207 Favourable 77.81 2020-10-09
SU714185 Favourable 4.36 2020-10-30
SU715187 Favourable 12.54 2020-10-30
SU716198 Favourable 30.68 2020-10-30
SU718196 Favourable 40.08 2020-10-30
SU719199 Favourable 30.68 2020-10-30
SU719209 Favourable 13.43 2020-10-30
SU720204 Unfavourable Recovering 14.55 2020-10-30

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk, Flint

Description

Description Butser Hill is a chalk massif with a discontinuous cap of clay with flints. The massif has been eroded to leave a series of deep combes in which the modern spring line is about one kilometre from the combe head. The combes on the south east flank support dense yew Taxus baccata woods and the remaining slopes of the Hillare sheep grazed chalk grassland. The calcareous yew woods are outstanding examples of a habitat with a very small representation in Britain. The series of vegetation types represented in the SSSI – chalk grassland, mixed scrub and yew wood – were the subject of a series of pioneer ecological studies. The yew woods and seral communities are among the finest examples known on the English chalkland and with the total range of habitat combine to make this site of outstanding nature conservation importance. Most of the Local Nature Reserve supports dense yew Taxus baccata woodland with associated whitebeam Sorbus aria. There is an aggressive invasion of scrub into remaining open downland, with hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, dogwood Cornus sanguinea and blackthorn Prunus spinosa particularly evident. Young yew trees are clearly advancing in the cover which thorn affords. All aspects and a variety of conditions of shelter are found within the Site of Special Scientific Interest. Some areas of grassland have been maintained by scrub clearance; others are kept close nibbled by rabbits. The downland flora is varied and rich, but is lacking in some of the very local species found at some sites. On the highest south facing slopes of Oxenbourne Down, at about 300 metres, a fragmentary example of chalk heath occurs with gorse Ulex europaeus locally common and very occasional clumps of heather Calluna vulgaris growing in a highly leached flint and chalk rubble. The insect fauna is well recorded and contains a number of local species. The north facing escarpment supports an exceptionally rich bryophyte flora.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
dogwood Cornus sanguinea LC shrub cornaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
gorse Ulex europaeus LC shrub leguminosae
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
whitebeams Sorbus aria CR tree rosaceae
yew Taxus baccata LC tree taxaceae

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.
Shoulder-striped clover
Heliothis maritima
Endangered Calluna vulgaris
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
Black hairstreak
Satyrium pruni
Endangered Prunus spinosa
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris
True lover's knot
Lycophotia porphyrea
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Ulex spp.
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Ulex europaeus
Brown hairstreak
Thecla betulae
Vulnerable Prunus spinosa
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, 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
Grey scalloped
Dyscia fagaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
Weaver's wave
Idaea contiguaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris

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 5 species from the description above: Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata

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

W13 — Yew wood

Taxus baccata woodland

Matches 3 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Buxus sempervirens, Sambucus nigra, Euonymus europaeus, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Crataegus monogyna, Mnium hornum, Fissidens viridulus, Brachythecium velutinum, Ctenidium molluscum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhynchostegium murale, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Tamus communis, Arum maculatum, Eupatorium cannabinum, Inula conyza, Mercurialis perennis, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Fragaria vesca, Rubus fruticosus agg., Atropa belladonna, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Brachypodium sylvaticum

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 2 species from the description above: Prunus spinosa, Ulex europaeus

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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 1 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris

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