Mappp.co - Coombe Hill

Also within

Gloucestershire County Cotswolds Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1) Favourable (1)

Unit	Feature	Condition	Area (ha)	Assessed
ST758941	—	Unfavourable Recovering	2.46	2012-11-08
ST763941	—	Favourable	13.06	2012-11-08

Habitats

Mixed scrub, Montane scrub

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Chalk, Limestone

Description

Description Coombe Hill is of special interest for its large area of flower rich, unimproved limestone grassland. It is one of only a few recent sites for the nationally rare limestone woundwort Stachys alpina.* The site occupies moderately steep, mainly south facing slopes close to Wotton under Edge. It consists of a large, unimproved limestone grassland pasture, a small area of ungrazed grassland and a fringe of broadleaved woodland along the western boundary. The underlying geology is Inferior Oolite, a type of Jurassic limestone. The grassland is of the type characteristic of the Cotswolds, being an example of the upright brome tor grass Bromus erectus Brachypodium pinnatum plant community. A survey of 200 Cotswold grasslands found that Coombe Hill ranked in the top ten sites for the abundance of herbs in the turf. It is closely grazed, which is now unusual for a grassland of this type. Many such grasslands have been lost, not only through agricultural improvement but also from abandonment and cessation of grazing. In addition to upright brome and tor grass, other characteristic grasses include sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis and quaking grass Briza media. Herbs typical of this community are present such as salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and wild thyme Thymus praecox. Other more locally restricted lime loving plants occur such as betony Betonica officinalis, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. A variety of orchid species are found here including pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, early purple orchid Orchis mascula and bee orchid Ophrys apifera. The diversity of the site is enhanced by patches of scrub, principally blackthorn Prunus spinosa and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and areas of broadleaved woodland. The woodland canopy is dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior, pedunculate oak Quercus robur and beech Fagus sylvatica with an understorey of hazel Corylus avellana. Coombe Hill is one of only three Sites of Special Scientific Interest in which the nationally rare limestone woundwort occurs. There is a cluster of past and present sites for limestone woundwort close to Wotton under Edge, one of only two areas in Britain where this plant is found. Limestone woundwort is a biennial or short lived perennial, which appears able to survive for long periods as seed in the ground. It is associated with woodland edge habitats and clearings and often appears after a period of disturbance or woodland management. It has declined in abundance since it was first discovered in this locality in 1897. The site also supports a variety of butterflies including the characteristic Cotswold grassland species, small blue Cupido minimus, chalk hill blue Polyommatus coridon and marbled white Melanargia galatheaa. * A plant specially protected by Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Species mentioned

Show the 25 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status

English name search for this in other sites	Latin name search with Google	IUCN / Red List	Type	Family
small blue	Cupido minimus	NT	butterfly	lycaenidae
chalkhill blue	Polyommatus coridon	VU	butterfly	lycaenidae
meadow oat grass	Avenula pratensis	Not listed in GB list	grass	poaceae
tor grass	Brachypodium pinnatum	LC	grass	poaceae
quaking grass	Briza media	VU	grass	poaceae
upright brome	Bromus erectus	Not listed in GB list	grass	poaceae
sheep's fescue	Festuca ovina	LC	grass	poaceae
pyramidal orchid	Anacamptis pyramidalis	LC	herb	orchidaceae
betony	Betonica officinalis	VU	herb	lamiaceae
dwarf thistle	Cirsium acaule	VU	herb	asteraceae
autumn gentian	Gentianella amarella	LC	herb	gentianaceae
rock roses	Helianthemum nummularium	VU	herb	cistaceae
horseshoe vetch	Hippocrepis comosa	VU	herb	fabaceae
bee orchid	Ophrys apifera	LC	herb	orchidaceae
early purple orchid	Orchis mascula	LC	herb	orchidaceae
salad burnet	Poterium sanguisorba	VU	herb	rosaceae
small scabious	Scabiosa columbaria	LC	herb	caprifoliaceae
limestone woundwort	Stachys alpina	EN	herb	lamiaceae
creeping thyme	Thymus praecox	Not listed in GB list	herb	lamiaceae
hawthorn	Crataegus monogyna	LC	shrub	rosaceae
blackthorn	Prunus spinosa	LC	shrub	rosaceae
hazel	Corylus avellana	LC	tree	corylaceae
beech	Fagus sylvatica	LC	tree	fabiaceae
ash	Fraxinus excelsior	LC	tree	oleaceae
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.

Species	Status	Via host-plant
Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta	Endangered	Quercus robur
Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala	Endangered	Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia	Endangered	Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens	Endangered	Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Black hairstreak Satyrium pruni	Endangered	Prunus spinosa
Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis	Vulnerable	Crataegus spp., Poterium sanguisorba
Northern brown Aricia artaxerxes	Vulnerable	Helianthemum nummularium
The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx	Vulnerable	Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria	Vulnerable	Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Dingy skipper Erynnis tages	Vulnerable	Hippocrepis comosa
Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia	Vulnerable	Scabiosa columbaria
Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata	Vulnerable	Helianthemum nummularium
Grayling Hipparchia semele	Vulnerable	Festuca ovina
The lackey Malacosoma neustria	Vulnerable	Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria	Vulnerable	Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Silver studded blue Plebejus argus	Vulnerable	Helianthemum nummularium, Hippocrepis comosa
Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae	Vulnerable	Poterium sanguisorba
Brown hairstreak Thecla betulae	Vulnerable	Prunus spinosa
Early moth Theria primaria	Vulnerable	Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi	Vulnerable	Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria	Vulnerable	Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola	Near Threatened	Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis	Near Threatened	Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi Antitype chi	Near Threatened	Crataegus monogyna
Garden tiger Arctia caja	Near Threatened	Prunus spinosa
Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus	Near Threatened	Festuca spp.
Heart moth Dicycla oo	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria	Near Threatened	Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
September thorn Ennomos erosaria	Near Threatened	Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp.
Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria	Near Threatened	Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa	Near Threatened	Festuca ovina
Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata	Near Threatened	Betonica officinalis, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Double dart Graphiphora augur	Near Threatened	Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma	Near Threatened	Festuca ovina
Silky wave Idaea dilutaria	Near Threatened	Helianthemum nummularium
Rosy minor Litoligia literosa	Near Threatened	Festuca ovina
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: Brachypodium pinnatum, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Poterium sanguisorba, Prunus spinosa, Quercus robur

Show 81 indicator species

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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 2 species from the description above: Festuca ovina, Thymus praecox

Show 107 indicator species

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 2 species from the description above: Corylus avellana, Prunus spinosa

Show 49 indicator species

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