Starling Bank

Also within

Worcestershire County Malvern Hills Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: River Terrace · Geological Period: Triassic

Landscape processes: Fluvial, Glacial

Description

Description Starling Bank is located on the side of a hill in South Worcestershire, near Castlemorton Common. The bank lies on glacial river terrace deposits of sand and gravel in the central plain of the Severn Valley, overlying Mercia Mudstones of the Triassic Period. The special interest of this bank lies in the transition from calcareous lime rich grassland at the top, characterised by upright brome Bromus erectus, to crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus and common knapweed Centaurea nigra mesotrophic neutral grassland near the stream. The transition between these two communities is of particular interest. The lower part of the bank supports the meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis subcommunity, with abundant sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum. The associated flora includes yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, cowslip Primula veris, goldilocks buttercup Ranunculus auricomus, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus and wild onion Allium vineale. Locally uncommon species include adder’s tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus and dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria. The site is bounded on three sides by species rich hedges which are dominated by hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, hazel Corylus avellana and ash Fraxinus excelsior, with wych elm Ulmus glabra, field maple Acer campestre, blackthorn Prunus spinosa and dogwood Cornus sanguinea.

Species mentioned

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.

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