Castle Hill Deer Park and Windy Pits

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.2372, -1.1040

Also within

North Yorkshire County NORTH YORK MOORS National Park

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (13) Unfavourable Declining (1)

Unit	Feature	Condition	Area (ha)	Assessed
SE571832	—	Unfavourable Recovering	15.18	2024-03-26
SE575834	—	Unfavourable Recovering	17.36	2024-03-26
SE575835	—	Unfavourable Recovering	—	2024-03-26
SE579827	—	Unfavourable Recovering	5.02	2024-03-26
SE579832	—	Unfavourable Recovering	13.49	2024-03-26
SE581828	—	Unfavourable Recovering	12.3	2024-03-26
SE582829	—	Unfavourable Recovering	—	2012-04-27
SE583827	—	Unfavourable Recovering	10.66	2024-03-26
SE585830	—	Unfavourable Recovering	4.64	2024-03-26
SE588822	—	Unfavourable Recovering	11.39	2024-03-26
SE588828	—	Unfavourable Declining	12.22	2024-03-26
SE589824	—	Unfavourable Recovering	5.07	2024-03-26
SE592820	—	Unfavourable Recovering	9.74	2024-03-26
SE598819	—	Unfavourable Recovering	23.18	2024-03-26

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream, Wood pasture

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Cave / Cavern · Rock Type: Limestone

Landscape processes: Coastal, Fluvial, Karst

Description

Description Castle Hill Deer Park and Windy Pit's SSSI is nationally important for its population of veteran trees present over an extensive area formerly managed as wood pasture, assemblages of wood and fungal feeding saproxylic invertebrates, population of oak polypore Piptoporus quercinus a fungal species listed in Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, mixed assemblages of hibernating and swarming bats and the static geomorphological features of Buckland’s Windy Pit. General description Castle Hill Deer Park and Windy Pit's SSSI comprises a series of deeply incised valleys, lying south of the River Rye, interspersed with high ridges which are covered with scattered veteran trees. Many of the original trees have survived recent conifer planting and date from much earlier times. There is evidence that much of the area was managed as woodland/wood pasture for many centuries and may well date back to a deer park thought to have been in existence at the time of the Norman Helmsley Castle. The woodlands and former wood pasture are dominated by both pedunculate Quercus robur and sessile oak Q. petraea and hybrids, followed by small leaved Tilia cordata and large leaved lime Tilia platyphyllos. Birch Betula sp. is a ‘pioneer’ species often acting as a useful ‘nurse’ crop to saplings of the more dominant trees, protecting them from local deer browsing. Other woody species on more base rich soils include ash Fraxinus excelsior, wych elm Ulmus glabra, beech Fagus sylvatica and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, whilst holly Ilex aquifolium and rowan Sorbus aucuparia occur on the more acid soils. Alder Alnus glutinosa dominates alongside the River Rye. Past planting has left a varied mix of Scot’s pine Pinus sylvestris, western hemlock Tsuga heterophylla, sitka spruce Picea sitchensis and beech. The ground flora is mixed depending on local soil type being dominated by wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, foxglove Digitalis purpurea, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina and tormentil Potentilla erecta in more acid areas and by species such as dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis in more base rich areas. Veteran trees The trees at Castle Hill Deer Park are relict wood pasture occurring on both limestone and more acid rocks. There are over 450 veteran trees, mainly of oak and lime with some important riverside alders and this represents a huge resource in combination with the similar population at the adjacent Duncombe Park SSSI. The trees appear to largely be older and more gnarled than those at Duncombe Park and may well reflect a long term, less intensive management policy for this area. Recent management has concentrated on gradually releasing the veteran trees from the shading effects of planted conifers by ‘haloing’ and thinning, whilst natural regeneration of oak, rowan and ash saplings has been retained. The great age of many of the trees provides an abundance of dead and fallen timber. Inside these trees there is a succession of fungi associated with dead and decaying wood, such as chicken of the woods Laetiporus sulphureus and other decay fungi which actively break down the heartwood into cellulose and lignin, producing a rich internal wood mould. This habitat, often deep within a large living tree, can provide a stable environment for many rare and specialised saproxylic wood feeding invertebrate species for many years. Invertebrates The veteran trees and associated habitats support a nationally important assemblage of wood and fungal feeding saproxylic invertebrates associated with heartwood decay, bark and sapwood decay and with fungal fruiting bodies. Many of these invertebrate species are nationally rare and are thought to represent a fauna that was once much more widespread in southern lowland forests and wood pasture but which has declined due to the loss of veteran trees. They appear now to only be found on sites where there has been long term continuity of veteran trees. Typical species found at Castle Hill Deer Park include the six spotted longhorn beetle Anoplodera sexguttata, the Melandryid beetle Hypulus quercinus and the soldier beetle Malthodes crassicornis. The New Forest is the only other British site which supports all three of these species. A further rare species, the lime bark beetle Ernoporicus caucasicus, is present within the plantation areas and is similarly at its northernmost British site here. This species is not known to occur in the New Forest and so the four species combine as an assemblage unique in Britain. There is also an extensive list of nationally scarce and otherwise uncommon saproxylic beetles such as the darkling beetle Prionychus ater, the false darkling beetle Abdera flexuosa and the hairy fungus beetle Mycetophagus piceus and the uncommon beetles the hairy fungus beetle Pseudotriphyllus suturalis, the sap beetle Omosita discoidea, the rove beetle Quedius xanthopus and the shining fungus beetle Tetratoma fungorum. Rare flies known from Castle Hill Deer Park include four key saproxylic British Red Data Book species which are known from very few British sites, the cranefly Lipsothrix errans, the dance fly Anthalia beatricella, another dance fly Leptopeza borealis and the Endangered Pseudopomyza atrimana. At least eight nationally scarce and otherwise uncommon species, including hoverflies and crane flies are also present. Scattered flowering trees such as lime and sycamore and flowering shrubs, including hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, blackthorn Prunus spinosa, elder Sambucus nigra and guelder rose Viburnum opulus, as well as peaks in localised flowering of species such as hogweed Heracleum sphondylium, provide important nectar sources for insects, as well as places to breed. Fungi The veteran trees also support rare fungi, including oak polypore Piptoporus quercinus, which are only known from a handful of other veteran tree sites with a long continuity of management and where there appears to be a good age structure ensuring the continuity of the supporting tree population. Static geomorphological features The Ryedale Windy Pit's at Buckland’s are vertical or near vertical fissures in the Lower Calcareous Grit Formation, often roofed over by boulders and accessible via fox hole like openings. The name ‘windy pit’ describes the warm, moist air that often rises from the cave entrances and condenses in cold weather. The high, parallel sided passage morphology, presence of large rocks wedged between walls at irregular intervals and at various heights, offsets between beds seen in the passage walls, combined with the absence of evidence for a stream having occupied the passage floors, indicates that the complex of fissures have been formed through mass movement processes. This process is thought to have involved deep seated lateral movements within the underlying Oxford Clay Formation with the resultant opening of joints and valleyward sliding of blocks of the Lower Calcareous Grit. Caves formed by mass movement processes are widespread in Britain. However, the Buckland’s Windy Pit is the longest and most complex so far discovered. Together with ridge and trough features on the ground surface above, it testifies to a complex shifting of huge blocks of Lower Calcareous Grit toward the valley, most probably due to ductile movements within the underlying Oxford Clay and possibly along bands within the Lower Calcareous Grit and/or Hambleton Oolite. This involved various differential movements of the blocks relative to each other, which opened upjoints at high angles to the valley side. Bats The Ryedale Windy Pit's at Snip Gill, Antofts and Helmsley also known as Buckland’s are nationally important for their winter hibernating bat assemblage which includes whiskered Myotis mystacinus, Brandt’s Myotis brandtii, Daubenton's Myotis daubentonii, Natterer’s Myotis nattereri and brown long eared bats Plecotus auritus. These sites are very important as ‘refugia’ for the long term survival of these species. In 2009, Alcathoe bat Myotis alcathoe was captured in small numbers at Snip Gill. This population is extremely important as it is one of only three sites in the UK where there are records of this species, which was only described in 2001 from bats caught in Greece. The numerous hollows in the old tree ‘hulks’ are also believed to be very important for bat hibernation. As well as being used for hibernation, the windy pits are also the site of some spectacular ‘swarming’ of bats between August and November each year, where the bats meet and breed. Similar mixed assemblages occur to those that hibernate at the site, with Natterer’s bats the most abundant. The bats visit these three caves during August, September and October, ‘swarming’ around the entrances and in the caves and ringing indicates a rapid turnover of a very large population. Many of the bats that visit the caves to mate are likely to use them to hibernate too. The windy pits attract a significant proportion of the national population of Natterer’s bats. The catchment area of the caves, determined by recapture at summer roosts, has a minimum radius of more than 60 km, with bats travelling to summer roosts as far afield as Ellerburn near Pickering, Low Catton near York and Winteringham and South Cave both close to the Humber Estuary. The Windy Pit's swarming site provides an important opportunity for genetic mixing between the different populations in the wider catchment area, which is critical to prevent inbreeding.

Species mentioned

Show the 48 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
Alcathoe bat	Myotis alcathoe	DD	bat	vespertillonidae
Brandt's bat	Myotis brandtii	DD	bat	vespertillonidae
Daubenton's bat	Myotis daubentonii	LC	bat	vespertillonidae
whiskered bat	Myotis mystacinus	DD	bat	vespertillonidae
Natterer's bat	Myotis nattereri	LC	bat	vespertillonidae
brown long-eared bat	Plecotus auritus	LC	bat	vespertillonidae
beetle	Abdera flexuosa	LC	beetle	melandryidae
no common name	Hypulus quercinus	LC	beetle	melandryidae
beetle	Malthodes crassicornis	NT	beetle	cantharidae
beetle	Mycetophagus piceus	LC	beetle	mycetophagidae
beetle	Omosita discoidea	Not listed in GB list	beetle	nitidulidae
beetle	Prionychus ater	LC	beetle	tenebrionidae
no common name	Pseudotriphyllus suturalis	LC	beetle	mycetophagidae
no common name	Tetratoma fungorum	LC	beetle	tetratomidae
six spotted longhorn	Anoplodera sexguttata	NT	beetle longhorn	cerambycidae
rove beetle	Quedius xanthopus	LC	beetle rove	staphylinidae
beetle	Ernoporicus caucasicus	Not listed in GB list	beetle weevil	curculionidae
crane	Grus grus	VU (Breeding)	bird-crane	gruidae
northern yellow splinter	Lipsothrix errans	Not listed in GB list	cranefly	limoniidae
fly	Anthalia beatricella	Not listed in GB list	fly	hybotidae
fly	Leptopeza borealis	Not listed in GB list	fly	hybotidae
fly	Pseudopomyza atrimana	DD	fly	pseudopomyzidae
chicken of the woods	Laetiporus sulphureus	Not listed in GB list	fungi	fomitopsidaceae
oak polypore	Piptoporus quercinus	Not listed in GB list	fungi	fomitopsidaceae
sheep's fescue	Festuca ovina	LC	grass	poaceae
foxglove	Digitalis purpurea	LC	herb	plantaginaceae
hogweed	Heracleum sphondylium	CR(PE)	herb	apiaceae
dog's mercury	Mercurialis perennis	LC	herb	euphorbiaceae
wood sorrel	Oxalis acetosella	LC	herb	oxalidaceae
tormentil	Potentilla erecta	LC	herb	rosaceae
hawthorn	Crataegus monogyna	LC	shrub	rosaceae
blackthorn	Prunus spinosa	LC	shrub	rosaceae
elder	Sambucus nigra	LC	shrub	caprifoliaceae
billberry	Vaccinium myrtillus	LC	shrub	ericaceae
gelder rose	Viburnum opulus	LC	shrub	caprifoliaceae
sycamore	Acer pseudoplatanus	Not listed in GB list	tree	aceraceae
alder	Alnus glutinosa	LC	tree	salicaceae
beech	Fagus sylvatica	LC	tree	fabiaceae
ash	Fraxinus excelsior	LC	tree	oleaceae
holly	Ilex aquifolium	LC	tree	aquifoliaceae
sitka spruce	Picea sitchensis	Not listed in GB list	tree	pinaceae
Scot's pine	Pinus sylvestris	LC	tree	pinaceae
common oak	Quercus robur	LC	tree	fagaceae
rowan	Sorbus aucuparia	LC	tree	rosaceae
lime small leaved	Tilia cordata	LC	tree	malvaceae
large leaved lime	Tilia platyphyllos	LC	tree	malvaceae
western hemlock	Tsuga heterophylla	Not listed in GB list	tree	pinaceae
wych elm	Ulmus glabra	LC	tree	ulmaceae

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
Speckled footman Coscinia cribraria	Critically Endangered	Vaccinium myrtillus
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.
Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia	Endangered	Digitalis purpurea
Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens	Endangered	Alnus glutinosa, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Black hairstreak Satyrium pruni	Endangered	Prunus spinosa
White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album	Endangered	Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp.
Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis	Vulnerable	Crataegus spp.
The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx	Vulnerable	Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Tilia spp., Ulmus spp.
Broom moth Ceramica pisi	Vulnerable	Picea spp., Pinus spp., Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria	Vulnerable	Acer pseudoplatanus, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Picea sitchensis, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Sorbus aucuparia, Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata	Vulnerable	Picea sitchensis
Garden dart Euxoa nigricans	Vulnerable	Heracleum sphondylium
Grayling Hipparchia semele	Vulnerable	Festuca ovina
The lackey Malacosoma neustria	Vulnerable	Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria	Vulnerable	Alnus glutinosa, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Tilia spp., Ulmus glabra
Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae	Vulnerable	Potentilla erecta
Brown hairstreak Thecla betulae	Vulnerable	Prunus spinosa
Early moth Theria primaria	Vulnerable	Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi	Vulnerable	Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria	Vulnerable	Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola	Near Threatened	Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis	Near Threatened	Crataegus monogyna, Vaccinium myrtillus
Grey chi Antitype chi	Near Threatened	Crataegus monogyna, Digitalis purpurea
Garden tiger Arctia caja	Near Threatened	Pinus sylvestris, Prunus spinosa, Sorbus aucuparia
Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
Dusky-lemon sallow Cirrhia gilvago	Near Threatened	Ulmus glabra
The sallow Cirrhia icteritia	Near Threatened	Ulmus glabra
Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus	Near Threatened	Festuca spp.
Rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea	Near Threatened	Vaccinium myrtillus
Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia	Near Threatened	Alnus glutinosa
Brindled ochre Dasypolia templi	Near Threatened	Heracleum sphondylium
Pine-tree lappet Dendrolimus pini	Near Threatened	Pinus sylvestris
Heart moth Dicycla oo	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
Kentish glory Endromis versicolora	Near Threatened	Alnus glutinosa
Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria	Near Threatened	Acer pseudoplatanus, Alnus glutinosa, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
September thorn Ennomos erosaria	Near Threatened	Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Tilia spp.
Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria	Near Threatened	Fraxinus excelsior
The Silurian Eriopygodes imbecilla	Near Threatened	Vaccinium myrtillus
Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa	Near Threatened	Festuca ovina
Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata	Near Threatened	Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
White-spotted pug Eupithecia tripunctaria	Near Threatened	Heracleum sphondylium, Sambucus nigra
Double dart Graphiphora augur	Near Threatened	Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma	Near Threatened	Festuca ovina
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
Scarce hook-tip Sabra harpagula	Near Threatened	Tilia cordata
Scotch burnet Zygaena exulans	Near Threatened	Vaccinium myrtillus

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

W10 — Atlantic oak wood, Lowland dry oak and birch wood, Lowland mixed oak and ash wood, Wood pasture

Quercus robur-Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus woodland

Matches 20 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Alnus glutinosa, Crataegus monogyna, Digitalis purpurea, Fagus sylvatica, Festuca ovina, Fraxinus excelsior, Heracleum sphondylium, Ilex aquifolium, Mercurialis perennis, Oxalis acetosella, Pinus sylvestris, Prunus spinosa, Quercus robur, Sambucus nigra, Sorbus aucuparia, Tilia cordata, Ulmus glabra, Vaccinium myrtillus, Viburnum opulus

Show 132 indicator species

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Carpinus betulus, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Castanea sativa, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Tilia cordata, Tilia x europaea, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua, Pinus nigra, Pinus sylvestris, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Malus sylvestris, Prunus avium, Sorbus aucuparia, Alnus glutinosa, Populus tremula, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Viburnum opulus, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Ligustrum vulgare, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Carex sylvatica, Juncus effusus, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium rostratum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Ceratodon purpureus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranoweisia cirrata, Dicranum scoparium, Amblystegium serpens, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum formosum, Lophocolea bidentata, Pellia epiphylla, Narcissus pseudonarcissus, Aegopodium podagraria, Anthriscus sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Sanicula europaea, Jacobaea vulgaris, Solidago virgaurea, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Euphorbia amygdaloides, Mercurialis perennis, Corydalis claviculata, Geranium robertianum, Ajuga reptans, Glechoma hederacea, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Rumex sanguineus, Lysimachia nemorum, Lysimachia nummularia, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Potentilla sterilis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium odoratum, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W14 — Beech wood, Wood pasture

Fagus sylvatica-Rubus fruticosus woodland

Matches 12 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Digitalis purpurea, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Ilex aquifolium, Mercurialis perennis, Oxalis acetosella, Pinus sylvestris, Quercus robur, Sambucus nigra, Sorbus aucuparia, Ulmus glabra

Show 76 indicator species

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Prunus avium, Sorbus aria, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Sambucus nigra, Ruscus aculeatus, Ligustrum vulgare, Carex remota, Carex sylvatica, Luzula pilosa, Mnium hornum, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens taxifolius, Brachythecium rutabulum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Arum maculatum, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Stellaria media agg., Euphorbia amygdaloides, Mercurialis perennis, Hypericum pulchrum, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Epipactis helleborine, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Geum urbanum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium odoratum, Galium verum, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus giganteus, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas

W16 — Atlantic oak wood, Lowland dry oak and birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus spp.-Betula spp.-Deschampsia flexuosa woodland

Matches 12 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Crataegus monogyna, Digitalis purpurea, Fagus sylvatica, Festuca ovina, Ilex aquifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Pinus sylvestris, Potentilla erecta, Quercus robur, Sorbus aucuparia, Vaccinium myrtillus

Show 89 indicator species

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Castanea sativa, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Sorbus aucuparia, Populus tremula, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Frangula alnus, Crataegus monogyna, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Campylopus pyriformis, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranodontium denudatum, Dicranoweisia cirrata, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium nemorale, Plagiothecium succulentum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Tetraphis pellucida, Barbilophozia attenuata, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Gymnocolea inflata, Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia coniocraea, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia polydactyla, Cladonia squamosa, Solidago virgaurea, Lonicera periclymenum, Corydalis claviculata, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata

W17 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Dicranum majus woodland

Matches 12 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Crataegus monogyna, Digitalis purpurea, Fagus sylvatica, Festuca ovina, Fraxinus excelsior, Ilex aquifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Quercus robur, Sorbus aucuparia, Vaccinium myrtillus

Show 165 indicator species

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Juniperus communis, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Crataegus monogyna, Carex pilulifera, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Andreaea rupestris, Mnium hornum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranodontium denudatum, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Dicranum scottianum, Leucobryum glaucum, Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Eurhynchium striatum, Heterocladium heteropterum, Hylocomiastrum umbratum, Hylocomium armoricum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sematophyllum demissum, Sematophyllum micans, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Tetraphis pellucida, Adelanthus decipiens, Anastrepta orcadensis, Barbilophozia attenuata, Barbilophozia floerkei, Bazzania tricrenata, Bazzania trilobata, Blepharostoma trichophyllum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Frullania tamarisci, Fuscocephaloziopsis lunulifolia, Harpanthus scutatus, Jamesoniella autumnalis, Jungermannia gracillima, Lepidozia pearsonii, Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Lophozia ventricosa, Marsupella emarginata, Microlejeunea ulicina, Mylia taylorii, Nowellia curvifolia, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila atlantica, Plagiochila killarniensis, Plagiochila porelloides, Plagiochila punctata, Plagiochila spinulosa, Ptilidium ciliare, Saccogyna viticulosa, Scapania gracilis, Scapania nemorea, Scapania umbrosa, Tritomaria exsectiformis, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia digitata, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia polydactyla, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia squamules, Cladonia subcervicornis, Parmelia saxatilis, Sphaerophorus fragilis, Sphaerophorus globosus, Solidago virgaurea, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cornus suecica, Hypericum pulchrum, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Goodyera repens, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris aemula, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Hymenophyllum tunbrigense, Hymenophyllum wilsonii, Polypodium vulgare, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W11 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Oxalis acetosella woodland

Matches 11 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna, Digitalis purpurea, Fagus sylvatica, Festuca ovina, Fraxinus excelsior, Ilex aquifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Quercus robur, Sorbus aucuparia, Vaccinium myrtillus

Show 106 indicator species

Acer campestre, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Juniperus communis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Cytisus scoparius, Crataegus monogyna, Rubus saxatilis, Carex pilulifera, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Cirriphyllum piliferum, Eurhynchium striatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum longisetum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila spinulosa, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Campanula rotundifolia, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria holostea, Pyrola minor, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Lathyrus montanus, Geranium robertianum, Hypericum pulchrum, Ajuga reptans, Teucrium scorodonia, Convallaria majalis, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Primula vulgaris, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W15 — Beech wood, Wood pasture

Fagus sylvatica-Deschampsia flexuosa woodland

Matches 8 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Ilex aquifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Pinus sylvestris, Quercus robur, Sorbus aucuparia, Vaccinium myrtillus

Show 54 indicator species

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata, Calluna vulgaris, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ruscus aculeatus, Carex pilulifera, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum formosum, Tetraphis pellucida, Calypogeia fissa, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnocolea inflata, Lepidozia reptans, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia squamules, Lonicera periclymenum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Rubus fruticosus agg., Melanpyrum pratense, Agrostis capillaris, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Show 15 indicator species

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

Show 11 indicator species

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

Show 12 indicator species

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

Show 20 indicator species

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