Bentley Station Meadow

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.1802, -0.8656

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SU793429 Favourable 3.17 2020-11-06
SU794429 Favourable 2.0 2020-11-06

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
blackcap Breeding
blackcap Roosting
chiffchaff Breeding
chiffchaff Roosting
nightingale Breeding
nightingale Roosting
redstart Breeding
redstart Roosting
whitethroat Breeding
whitethroat Roosting
willow warbler Breeding
willow warbler Roosting

Description

Description Bentley Station Meadow is located at the north western corner of Alice Holt Forest, lying on Gault Clay, with an area of dry acidic soil providing local variation. The unimproved herb rich grassland is situated in close juxtaposition to a variety of habitats including scattered scrub, a willow lined stream forming the western boundary to the meadow and ancient semi natural oak woodland surviving on the edge of the Forest in the east. This combination of habitats provides a sheltered environment which is both extremely uncommon in Hampshire and ideal for a remarkably rich invertebrate fauna. Many regionally scarce and local species breed and feed within the site, in particular hoverflies and butterflies. A total of 22 species of butterfly are known to breed, including both the purple emperor Apatura iris and the pearl bordered fritillary Boloria euphrosyne; a further six species visit annually for nectaring purposes. The grassland is dominated by cock’s foot Dactylis glomerata, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa, with locally bracken Pteridium aquilinum and common nettle Urtica dioica. The sward is species rich, with 15 species indicative of ancient meadowland such as sneezewort Achillea ptarmica, bitter vetch Lathyrus montanus, spiny rest-harrow Ononis spinosa, common milkwort Polygala vulgaris, cowslip Primula veris, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, common dog violet Viola riviniana and devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis. Acidic marshy grassland is associated with the western stream and here rushes Juncus spp. are dominant together with common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and common fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica. The meadow is rich in a variety of nectar producing plants such as wild angelica Angelica sylvestris which is an important nectar source for insects and in particular the white admiral Limenitis camilla and silver washed fritillary Argynnis paphia butterflies which breed in the adjacent woodland. Examples of two of the locally uncommon hoverflies utilising the grassland are the yellow and black Sphaerophoria taeniata which prefers the wetter areas and Xanthogramma citrotasciatum favouring the drier grassland and patches of bare ground. Scrub is concentrated in the middle of the meadow, being dominated by hawthorn, blackthorn, pedunculate oak Quercus robur and rose. Willows, in particular Salix caprea and Salix cinerea, are found alongside the stream and are the food plant for larvae of the purple emperor butterfly. The dense patches of scrub are also important for nesting, feeding and roosting birds such as blackcap, chiffchaff, nightingale, redstart, whitethroat and willow warbler. The coppice with standards woodland is dominated by pedunculate oak and ash, with a hazel and hawthorn understorey. The ground flora is diverse being dominated in spring by wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides, yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella and common dog violet – the latter being the food plant of the pearl bordered fritillary. Hoverflies which breed in dead wood are well represented and include the locally uncommon, conspicuous black and red Brachypalpoides leutand the bumble bee mimics Criorhina berberina, C. floccosa and C. ranunculi. Old unimproved meadows adjacent to semi natural ancient woodlands provide an extremely diverse and ecologically rich habitat. Bentley Station Meadow is one of the richest examples of this rare habitat in Hampshire.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos VU (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus LC (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita LC (Breeding) bird-warbler phylloscopidae
willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus LC (Breeding) bird-warbler phylloscopidae
blackcap Sylvia atricapilla LC (Breeding) bird-warbler sylviidae
whitethroat Sylvia communis Not listed in GB list bird-warbler sylviidae
purple emperor Apatura iris LC butterfly nymphalidae
silver-washed fritillary Argynnis paphia LC butterfly nymphalidae
pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria euphrosyne VU butterfly nymphalidae
white admiral Limenitis camilla VU butterfly nymphalidae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
cock's foot Dactylis glomerata LC grass poaceae
tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa LC grass poaceae
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus LC grass poaceae
sneezewort Achillea ptarmica LC herb asteraceae
wood anemone Anemone nemorosa LC herb ranunculaceae
wild angelica Angelica sylvestris LC herb apiaceae
spotted orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii LC herb orchidaceae
wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides LC herb euphorbiaceae
bitter vetchling Lathyrus montanus Not listed in GB list herb fabaceae
yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum LC herb primulaceae
spiny rest-harrow Ononis spinosa Not listed in GB list herb fabaceae
wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella LC herb oxalidaceae
common milkwort Polygala vulgaris VU herb polygalaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica LC herb asteraceae
pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus EN herb saxifragaceae
devils-bit scabious Succisa pratensis VU herb caprifoliaceae
nettle Urtica dioica LC herb urticaceae
common dog violet Viola riviniana LC herb violaceae
hoverfly Xanthogramma citrotasciatum Not listed in GB list hoverfly syrphidae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
goat willow Salix caprea LC tree shrub salicaceae
grey willow Salix cinerea LC tree shrub salicaceae

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
High brown fritillary
Fabriciana adippe
Critically Endangered Viola riviniana
Pearl-bordered fritillary
Boloria euphrosyne
Endangered Viola riviniana
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Salix spp.
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula veris
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Salix caprea
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Pteridium aquilinum
Scarce chocolate-tip
Clostera anachoreta
Vulnerable Salix cinerea, Salix spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Succisa pratensis
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Salix spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Deschampsia cespitosa
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp., Salix caprea
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Ononis spp.
The anomalous
Stilbia anomala
Vulnerable Deschampsia cespitosa
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Salix spp.
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Salix caprea, Urtica dioica
Large nutmeg
Apamea anceps
Near Threatened Dactylis glomerata
Purple emperor
Apatura iris
Near Threatened Salix caprea, Salix cinerea
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Pteridium aquilinum, Salix cinerea, Urtica dioica
Small pearl-bordered
Boloria selene
Near Threatened Viola riviniana
Minor shoulder-knot
Brachylomia viminalis
Near Threatened Salix caprea, Salix cinerea
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Salix spp.
Dingy mocha
Cyclophora pendularia
Near Threatened Salix caprea, Salix cinerea
Brindled ochre
Dasypolia templi
Near Threatened Angelica sylvestris
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Quercus spp., Salix spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Tawny speckled
Eupithecia icterata
Near Threatened Achillea ptarmica
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Angelica sylvestris, Pulicaria dysenterica, Salix spp.
Bordered pug
Eupithecia succenturiata
Near Threatened Achillea ptarmica
White-spotted pug
Eupithecia tripunctaria
Near Threatened Angelica sylvestris
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Dactylis glomerata, Holcus lanatus
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Dactylis glomerata
Swallowtail papilio
Papilio machaon
Near Threatened Angelica sylvestris
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 8 species from the description above: Anemone nemorosa, Dactylis glomerata, Holcus lanatus, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Salix cinerea, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana

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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 8 species from the description above: Anemone nemorosa, Angelica sylvestris, Dactylis glomerata, Holcus lanatus, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 7 species from the description above: Anemone nemorosa, Angelica sylvestris, Deschampsia cespitosa, Oxalis acetosella, Salix cinerea, Succisa pratensis, Viola riviniana

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 6 species from the description above: Dactylis glomerata, Holcus lanatus, Oxalis acetosella, Pteridium aquilinum, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana

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