Restrop Farm and Brockhurst Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.5785, -1.8972

Also within

Wiltshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (2) Unfavourable Recovering (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SU070866 Favourable 23.29 2011-12-09
SU071870 Favourable 8.26 2011-06-28
SU074865 Unfavourable Recovering 20.52 2013-10-23
SU075868 Unfavourable Recovering 0.78 2013-10-23

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chert

Description

Description This site exhibits a diversity of habitat types from unimproved hay meadows and permanent pasture, through mature hedgerows and scrub to ancient woodland. The majority of such habitat types has incurred serious losses since the advent of modern agricultural and forestry practices and their combined presence at this site is therefore of particular significance. Lying some six miles to the west of Swindon, the site occupies the southern and western slopes of a conical hill surmounted by Ringsbury Camp. The well drained soils of upper slopes overlie the 'Rhaxella' Chert and silts and sands of Lower Corallian age; these grade downslope into waterlogged soils derived from the impermeable Oxford Clay. Current management of the grassland involves the 'shutting up' of some fields for hay during the spring and early summer months with the remainder subject to permanent grazing by livestock. The adjoining ancient woodland has traditionally been managed for coppice although in recent years has suffered neglect. A range of grass species characteristic of neutral soils are widespread in the hay meadows and permanent pasture, including abundant sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, red fescue Festuca rubra, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus and common bent Agrostis capillaris. Also present are species typically associated with agriculturally unimproved grassland such as quaking grass Briza media, meadow brome Bromus commutatus, heath grass Danthonia decumbens and meadow barley Hordeum secalinum. A number of sedge species, including glaucous, common, oval, spring, spiked and hairy Carex flacca, nigra, ovalis, caryophyllea, spicata and hirta are well distributed at lower frequencies throughout the grassland. The grassland supports a variety of common herbs typical of the common knapweed Centaurea nigra, crested dog's tail meadow communities, for example, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, common sorrel Rumex acetosa and common knapweed itself. A long period of uninterrupted grassland management without ploughing, the application of herbicides or artificial fertilisers, is indicated by the presence of species such as devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, betony Betonica officinalis, adder's tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, saw wort Serratula tinctoria, pignut Conopodium majus, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus, sneezewort Achillea ptarmica, cowslip Primula veris and spiny rest-harrow Ononis spinosa. Floristic diversity is further enhanced by the localised occurrence both of species usually characteristic of more acid soils such as lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica and tormentil Potentilla erecta and those more typical of calcareous habitats such as lady's bedstraw Galium verum, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, common milkwort Polygala vulgaris, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, fairy flax Linum catharticum and hoary plantain Plantago media.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
adders-tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum LC fern ophioglossaceae
common bent Agrostis capillaris LC grass poaceae
sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum LC grass poaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
meadow brome Bromus commutatus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus LC grass poaceae
heath grass Danthonia decumbens NT grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
meadow barley Hordeum secalinum LC grass poaceae
sneezewort Achillea ptarmica LC herb asteraceae
betony Betonica officinalis VU herb lamiaceae
black knapweed Centaurea nigra LC herb asteraceae
greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa LC herb asteraceae
dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule VU herb asteraceae
pignut Conopodium majus LC herb apiaceae
lady's bedstraw Galium verum LC herb rubiaceae
meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis LC herb fabaceae
fairy flax Linum catharticum LC herb linaceae
birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus LC herb fabaceae
spiny rest-harrow Ononis spinosa Not listed in GB list herb fabaceae
lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica NT herb orobanchaceae
hoary plantain Plantago media LC herb plantaginaceae
common milkwort Polygala vulgaris VU herb polygalaceae
tormentil Potentilla erecta LC herb rosaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
common sorrel Rumex acetosa LC herb polygonaceae
saw wort Serratula tinctoria VU herb asteraceae
pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus EN herb saxifragaceae
devils-bit scabious Succisa pratensis VU herb caprifoliaceae
glaucus sedge Carex flacca LC sedge cyperaceae

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
Reddish buff
Acosmetia caliginosa
Critically Endangered Serratula tinctoria
Black-veined moth
Siona lineata
Critically Endangered Centaurea nigra, Lotus corniculatus
New forest
Zygaena viciae
Critically Endangered Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus
Straw belle
Aspitates gilvaria
Endangered Linum catharticum, Lotus corniculatus
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula veris
Wood white
Leptidea sinapis
Endangered Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Rumex acetosa
Least minor
Photedes captiuncula
Endangered Carex flacca
Fiery clearwing
Pyropteron chrysidiformis
Endangered Rumex acetosa
Slender scotch
Zygaena loti
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus, Serratula tinctoria
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Rumex spp.
Dingy skipper
Erynnis tages
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Centaurea scabiosa, Plantago spp., Succisa pratensis
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Centaurea spp., Galium spp.
Garden dart
Euxoa nigricans
Vulnerable Plantago spp., Rumex spp.
White-line dart
Euxoa tritici
Vulnerable Galium verum
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Festuca rubra
Bedstraw hawk-moth
Hyles gallii
Vulnerable Galium spp.
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus, Ononis spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Potentilla erecta
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Rumex spp.
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Rumex spp.
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Plantago spp., Rumex spp.
Latticed heath
Chiasmia clathrata
Near Threatened Lathyrus pratensis
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Rumex spp.
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Agrostis spp., Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Galium spp., Plantago spp., Rumex spp.
Tawny speckled
Eupithecia icterata
Near Threatened Achillea ptarmica
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Betonica officinalis, Centaurea spp.
Bordered pug
Eupithecia succenturiata
Near Threatened Achillea ptarmica
Scarce forester
Jordanita globulariae
Near Threatened Centaurea nigra, Centaurea scabiosa
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Agrostis spp.
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Carex flacca
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Near Threatened Galium spp., Rumex 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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 6 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Carex flacca, Festuca rubra, Rumex acetosa, 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 3 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra, Rumex acetosa

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

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

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