Benty Grange
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK146643 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 8.89 | 2021-09-03 |
| SK147640 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 9.51 | 2021-09-03 |
| SK148642 | — | Favourable | 2.69 | 2021-09-03 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone
Description
Description Benty Grange SSSI is a nationally important site for its lowland unimproved neutral grassland. The grassland consists mainly of the nationally scarce National Vegetation Classification NVC type MG5 crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus – common knapweed Centaurea nigra grassland. General description Benty Grange SSSI supports one of the largest areas of species rich unimproved neutral grassland on the Carboniferous limestone plateau in the Peak District National Park. Within Derbyshire and the Peak District, as throughout the UK, there have been significant losses of unimproved hay meadows as a result of agricultural improvement. The site consists of a series of adjoining fields. Most of the site lies on a gentle south facing slope. Neutral grassland extends over all the fields, though the influence of the limestone bedrock is strong in one of the western fields where soils are thin on steep slopes formed from old workings and on limestone outcrops. On the thinnest soils, there are transitions to more calcareous neutral grassland, with sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, hoary plantain Plantago media and glaucous sedge Carex flacca. The most extensive areas of neutral grassland are characterised by grasses, such as crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, common bent Agrostis capillaris and red fescue Festuca rubra. The herbs include common knapweed Centaurea nigra, meadow Ranunculus acris and bulbous Ranunculus bulbosus buttercups, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, red clover Trifolium pratense, oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, common bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, common cat’s ear Hypochaeris radicata, common sorrel Rumex acetosa, and, more locally, pignut Conopodium majus.
Species mentioned
Show the 18 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 | Rumex acetosa |
| Least minor Photedes captiuncula |
Endangered | Carex flacca |
| Fiery clearwing Pyropteron chrysidiformis |
Endangered | Rumex acetosa |
| Slender scotch Zygaena loti |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Rumex spp. |
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Plantago spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp., Galium spp. |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Plantago spp., Rumex spp., Trifolium spp. |
| White-line dart Euxoa tritici |
Vulnerable | Galium verum |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Ranunculus spp., Rumex spp., Trifolium spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Plantago lanceolata, Rumex spp. |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Plantago spp., Rumex spp. |
| Latticed heath Chiasmia clathrata |
Near Threatened | Trifolium spp. |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina, Galium spp., Plantago spp., Rumex spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Centaurea spp. |
| Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea nigra |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp. |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Carex flacca, Festuca ovina |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium spp., Rumex 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
MG5 — Lowland meadow and pasture, Traditional orchard
Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra grassland
Matches 18 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Carex flacca, Centaurea nigra, Conopodium majus, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Galium verum, Hypochaeris radicata, Leucanthemum vulgare, Lotus corniculatus, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Rumex acetosa, Trifolium pratense
Show 81 indicator speciesCarex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Knautia arvensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Colchicum autumnale, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla vestita, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Chara curta
MG4 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture
Alopecurus pratensis-Sanguisorba officinalis grassland
Matches 14 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Centaurea nigra, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca rubra, Galium verum, Hypochaeris radicata, Leucanthemum vulgare, Lotus corniculatus, Plantago lanceolata, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Rumex acetosa, Trifolium pratense
Show 71 indicator speciesCarex acutiformis, Carex hirta, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium elatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Hypochaeris radicata, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Serratula tinctoria, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum arvense, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sepium, Fritillaria meleagris, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum flavum, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anglica, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Bromopsis erecta, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Chara curta
MG8 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture
Cynosurus cristatus-Caltha palustris grassland
Matches 12 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Carex flacca, Centaurea nigra, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca rubra, Leucanthemum vulgare, Lotus corniculatus, Plantago lanceolata, Ranunculus acris, Rumex acetosa, Trifolium pratense
Show 70 indicator speciesCarex demissa, Carex distans, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium rostratum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Achillea ptarmica, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum palustre, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Mentha aquatica, Euphrasia nemorosa, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Glyceria declinata, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Dryopteris expansa
MG6 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Traditional orchard
Lolium perenne-Cynosurus cristatus grassland
Matches 11 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Centaurea nigra, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Hypochaeris radicata, Plantago lanceolata, Ranunculus acris, Rumex acetosa, Trifolium pratense
Show 53 indicator speciesJuncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus pratensis, Medicago lupulina, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Iris pseudacorus, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Rumex obtusifolius, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla reptans, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens
W24 — Traditional orchard
Rubus fruticosus-Holcus lanatus underscrub
Matches 7 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Centaurea nigra, Festuca rubra, Hypochaeris radicata, Lotus corniculatus, Ranunculus acris
Show 82 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Solanum dulcamara, Brachythecium rutabulum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Anthriscus sylvestris, Chaerophyllum temulentum, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Achillea millefolium, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Lapsana communis, Solidago virgaurea, Taraxacum officianalis, Alliaria petiolata, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Equisetum arvense, Mercurialis perennis, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens, Vicia sativa, Vicia sepium, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Stachys sylvatica, Chamerion angustifolium, Epilobium hirsutum, Epilobium montanum, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex sanguineus, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Filipendula ulmaria, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Cruciata laevipes, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anisantha sterilis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Trisetum flavescens, Dryopteris filix-mas