Augill Valley Pasture

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.5267, -2.2843

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
NY816146 Favourable 2.82 2022-01-24

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Lead Mine · Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Glacial Till, Limestone

Landscape processes: Glacial

Birds & fish recorded

Fish

SpeciesSeason
Smelt Unknown

Description

Description Augill Valley Pasture, lying some two kilometres east of Brough, immediately to the north of the A66 road, is an important remaining example of an unimproved neutral northern grassland. At an altitude of approximately 260 metres OD it occupies ground which slopes steeply down to the Augill Beck to the west. It has developed on varying depths of boulder clay and topsoil which overlie Carboniferous limestone and sandstones of the Dinantian series. Unimproved grasslands are now a very rare habitat nationally with only an estimated three percent left undamaged by modern agricultural techniques such as the use of artificial fertilisers, herbicides and re seeding. Northern sub montane grasslands are confined to a few upland valleys in the north Pennines and the Lake District and are therefore a very scarce resource. The grassland at Augill is particularly species rich containing a number of rare and locally restricted plants and represents one of the most diverse of its kind within East Cumbria. The dominant grasses within the pasture are red fescue Festuca rubra and common bent Agrostis capillaris, but a variety of other grasses are also present including sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, quaking grass Briza media, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, downy oat grass Avenula pubescens, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus and heath grass Danthonia decumbens. The herb component is very rich and forms a substantial proportion of the sward. The most frequent species are knapweed Centaurea nigra, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, betony Betonica officinalis, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis and three species of lady's mantle, smooth Alchemilla glabra, intermediate Alchemilla xanthochlora and hairy Alchemilla filicaulis. Species of particular note include frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis, greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, twayblade Neottia ovata, saw wort Serratula tinctoria, the nationally rare bird's eye primrose Primula farinosa and in the damper areas of the field margins the increasingly scarce globe flower Trollius europaeus. A number of sedges are also found including flea Carex pulicaris, spring Carex caryophyllea, glaucous Carex flacca and carnation sedge C. panicea. Along the western edge of the pasture, there is a gradual transition from grassland to woodland. This transition is marked by scattered birch scrub Betula pubescens, grading into denser thickets of birch, blackthorn Prunus spinosa and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and eventually into woodland on the steeper slopes and river cliffs of the Augill Beck. The woodland is dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior, birch and rowan Sorbus aucuparia with an understorey of hazel Corylus avellana and hawthorn. The woodland ground flora is varied and includes dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, wood avens Geum urbanum, sanicle Sanicula europaea as well as a number of ferns such as male fern Dryopteris filix-mas, broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata and lady fern Athyrium filix-femina. Evidence of a former lead mining and smelting industry can be found within the site. A hollow on the woodland, grassland edge has been bunded to collect water which was channelled down to the now abandoned smelt mill by the Augill Beck. The mill occupies a low lying grassy area below the woodland and soil disturbance has led to the development of a more ruderal community with localised patches of nettles Urtica dioica and elder Sambucus nigra. The site has not been surveyed for its ornithological and invertebrate interest but red squirrels and badgers are known to frequent the woodland.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina LC fern woodsiaceae
broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata LC fern dryopteridaceae
male fern Dryopteris filix-mas LC fern dryopteridaceae
adders-tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum LC fern ophioglossaceae
common bent Agrostis capillaris LC grass poaceae
sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum LC grass poaceae
downy oat grass Avenula pubescens LC grass poaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU 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
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus LC grass poaceae
lady's mantle Alchemilla filicaulis VU herb rosaceae
lady's mantle Alchemilla glabra LC herb rosaceae
lady's mantle Alchemilla xanthochlora VU herb rosaceae
betony Betonica officinalis VU herb lamiaceae
black knapweed Centaurea nigra LC herb asteraceae
frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis VU herb orchidaceae
herb bennet Geum urbanum LC herb rosaceae
fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea NT herb orchidaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus LC herb fabaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
common twayblade Neottia ovata NT herb orchidaceae
ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata LC herb plantaginaceae
greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha NT herb orchidaceae
birds eye primrose Primula farinosa VU herb primulaceae
great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis LC herb rosaceae
sanicle Sanicula europaea LC herb apiaceae
greater hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis LC herb asteraceae
saw wort Serratula tinctoria VU herb asteraceae
devils-bit scabious Succisa pratensis VU herb caprifoliaceae
globe flower Trollius europaeus VU herb ranunculaceae
nettle Urtica dioica LC herb urticaceae
spring-sedge Carex caryophyllea NT sedge cyperaceae
glaucus sedge Carex flacca LC sedge cyperaceae
flea sedge Carex pulicaris NT sedge cyperaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
elder Sambucus nigra LC shrub caprifoliaceae
downy birch Betula pubescens LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
rowan Sorbus aucuparia LC 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
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 Lotus corniculatus
Straw belle
Aspitates gilvaria
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Marsh moth
Athetis pallustris
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Wood white
Leptidea sinapis
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Heath fritillary
Melitaea athalia
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Glanville fritillary
Melitaea cinxia
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
Least minor
Photedes captiuncula
Endangered Carex flacca
Golden plusia
Polychrysia moneta
Endangered Trollius europaeus
Black hairstreak
Satyrium pruni
Endangered Prunus spinosa
Slender scotch
Zygaena loti
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Lotus corniculatus, Serratula tinctoria
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Betula spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Sorbus aucuparia
Dingy skipper
Erynnis tages
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Plantago spp., Succisa pratensis
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Centaurea spp.
Garden dart
Euxoa nigricans
Vulnerable Plantago spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Festuca rubra
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Geum urbanum
Brown hairstreak
Thecla betulae
Vulnerable Prunus spinosa
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus monogyna
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Plantago lanceolata, Urtica dioica
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Plantago spp., Prunus spinosa, Sorbus aucuparia, Urtica dioica
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Agrostis spp., Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca spp.
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Betula pubescens
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Betula spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Betula spp., Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Plantago spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Betonica officinalis, Centaurea spp., Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
White-spotted pug
Eupithecia tripunctaria
Near Threatened Sambucus nigra
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
Scarce forester
Jordanita globulariae
Near Threatened Centaurea nigra
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Agrostis spp., Holcus lanatus
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Carex flacca
Red carpet
Xanthorhoe decoloraria
Near Threatened Alchemilla spp.
White prominent
Leucodonta bicoloria
Regionally Extinct Betula 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

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 11 species from the description above: Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Dryopteris filix-mas, Fraxinus excelsior, Geum urbanum, Holcus lanatus, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, Prunus spinosa, Sambucus nigra, Urtica dioica

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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 11 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Corylus avellana, Dryopteris filix-mas, Festuca rubra, Geum urbanum, Holcus lanatus, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, Plantago lanceolata, Prunus spinosa, Urtica dioica

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 8 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Alchemilla glabra, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Carex flacca, Dactylorhiza viridis, Dryopteris dilatata, Festuca rubra, 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

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