Hurcott Pasture
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO848779 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 4.69 | 2015-01-15 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Triassic
Description
Description Hurcott Pasture is situated in north Worcestershire, on the eastern edge of the town of Kidderminster. The pasture lies on sloping ground overlying the Bunter Sandstones of the Triassic Period, which give rise to nutrient poor free draining soils. The special interest lies in the size of the site and in the particular character and diversity of the semi natural grassland sward which has been maintained by grazing and is of a type which is nationally scarce and declining through agricultural improvement, development and neglect. The vegetation over most of the site conforms with the acidic grassland community characterised by sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, common bent Agrostis capillaris and sheep’s sorrel Rumex acetosella. Most surviving examples of this community in southern Britain are small and fragmented. The soil is shallow in places which gives rise to an open sward characterised by an ephemeral spring flora. Species found include early hair grass Aira praecox, changing forget-me-not Myosotis discolor, parsley piert Aphanes arvensis, common whitlowgrass Erophila verna and common mouse ear Cerastium fontanum. Both bird’s foot Ornithopus perpusillus and common stork’s bill Erodium cicutarium are abundant and form a distinctive feature of the sward. Lower plants also are a particular feature and include the mosses Polytrichum juniperinum, Ceratodon purpureus, Brachythecium albicans and lichens Cladonia spp. A number of locally uncommon or rare species occur including field mouse ear Cerastium arvense, little mouse ear Cerastium semidecandrum, spring vetch Vicia lathyroides and sand spurrey Spergularia rubra. On deeper soil the sward is of a neutral grassland type dominated by common bent, red fescue Festuca rubra, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus, sheep’s sorrel Rumex acetosella, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, lesser dandelion Taraxacum erythrosperma agg., cat’s ear Hypochaeris radicata, soft clover Trifolium striatum and lesser trefoil Trifolium dubium. Other species occurring less frequently include dove’s foot crane’s bill Geranium molle, mouse ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, field wood rush Luzula campestris and white campion Silene latifolia. Part of the site has an area of gorse Ulex europaeus scrub which provides habitat for birds and invertebrates. hawthorn Crataegus monogyna hedges form boundaries to part of the site.
Species mentioned
Show the 31 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusInsects 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Marsh moth Athetis pallustris |
Endangered | Plantago lanceolata |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp. |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna |
| Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia |
Endangered | Plantago lanceolata |
| Glanville fritillary Melitaea cinxia |
Endangered | Plantago lanceolata |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Crataegus spp. |
| Fiery clearwing Pyropteron chrysidiformis |
Endangered | Rumex acetosella |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Rumex spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Plantago spp. |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Plantago spp., Rumex spp., Trifolium spp. |
| White-line dart Euxoa tritici |
Vulnerable | Cerastium spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Aira praecox, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Ulex spp. |
| Lead belle Scotopteryx mucronata |
Vulnerable | Ulex europaeus |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Ranunculus spp., Rumex spp., Taraxacum spp., Trifolium spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Plantago lanceolata, Rumex spp., Taraxacum spp. |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Plantago spp., Rumex spp., Taraxacum spp. |
| Latticed heath Chiasmia clathrata |
Near Threatened | Trifolium spp. |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp., Taraxacum spp. |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Festuca spp. |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina, Plantago spp., Rumex spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp. |
| Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp. |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp., Taraxacum 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 4 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix 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 4 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra, Plantago lanceolata, Ulex europaeus
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera 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
Matches 1 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera 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