Mill Crook

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.1101, -0.8723

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SP773463 Unfavourable Recovering 5.85 2020-06-17

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Alluvium

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Description Mill Crook is a traditionally managed hay meadow situated on alluvial soils in the valley of the River Tove. The grassland is floristically diverse and an outstanding example of the meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis flood meadow community type. Such neutral grassland is declining rapidly as a result of both agricultural changes and the extraction of river gravels present beneath alluvium and is now very rare at both a national and county level. This site is the best of the few remaining species rich hay meadows recorded from the Tove Valley. The sward comprises a good range of grasses and forbs, the central ‘core’ of the meadow being particularly rich in this respect. Grasses such as meadow foxtail, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus occur in abundance, accompanied by a number of less abundant species including quaking grass Briza media. The herb flora is dominated by great burnet, meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris and ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata with associated species such as yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, common knapweed Centaurea nigra and cowslip Primula veris. Damper parts of the meadow support sedges, such as spiked sedge Carex spicata and provide conditions for the growth of mosses, typically including Calliergonell cuspidatum. A well developed boundary hedgerow containing buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica and a mature pedunculate oak Quercus robur tree situated within the meadow add additional interest to the site.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites
Latin name
search with Google
IUCN / Red List Type Family
meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis LC grass poaceae
sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum LC grass poaceae
false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius LC grass poaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus LC grass poaceae
black knapweed Centaurea nigra LC herb asteraceae
meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria LC herb rosaceae
ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata LC herb plantaginaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris DD herb ranunculaceae
yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor DD herb orobanchaceae
great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis LC herb rosaceae
pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus EN herb saxifragaceae
pointed spear moss Calliergonell cuspidatum Not listed in GB list moss hypnales
spiked sedge Carex spicata LC sedge cyperaceae
buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica LC shrub rhamnaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae

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
Marsh moth
Athetis pallustris
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Rhamnus cathartica
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula veris
Heath fritillary
Melitaea athalia
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Glanville fritillary
Melitaea cinxia
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Filipendula ulmaria, Quercus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Quercus spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp.
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Plantago spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Centaurea spp., Filipendula ulmaria, Rhinanthus minor
Garden dart
Euxoa nigricans
Vulnerable Plantago spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Quercus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp., Rhamnus cathartica
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Quercus spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Ranunculus spp.
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Plantago lanceolata
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Plantago spp.
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Plantago spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Centaurea spp.
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Scarce forester
Jordanita globulariae
Near Threatened Centaurea nigra
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Holcus lanatus
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Arrhenatherum elatius
Clay fan-foot
Paracolax tristalis
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Common fan-foot
Pechipogo strigilata
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Frosted green
Polyploca ridens
Near Threatened Quercus robur

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 4 species from the description above: Arrhenatherum elatius, Holcus lanatus, Quercus robur, Rhamnus cathartica

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

W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub

Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 4 species from the description above: Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Holcus lanatus, Plantago lanceolata

Hedera helix, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Achillea millefolium, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Jasione montana, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Teucrium scorodonia, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Pteridium aquilinum

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Filipendula ulmaria, Holcus lanatus, Plantago lanceolata

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

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa