Craighall Den

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.2838, -2.9635

Also within

Fife County

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Upland mixed ash woodland Favourable 2019-03-20

Habitats

Hedgerow scrub

Description

CRAIGHALL DEN Craighall Den, an upland mixed ash woodland lying in the valley of the Craighall Burn, 1km south of Ceres, represents one of the largest and best remaining examples of semi-natural woodland in north-east Fife. The wood was cut over during the last war and there has been some planting of exotic species. Nevertheless, its semi-natural character has largely survived. The canopy is currently dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior, pedunculate oak Quercus robur and wych elm Ulmus glabra with locally abundant sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, field maple A.campestre and beech Fagus sylvatica. An understorey of hazel Corylus avellana, elder Sambucus nigra and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna is present with occasional gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa and bird cherry Prunus padus on areas of more level ground. The ground flora north of the burn is variously dominated by dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, greater wood-rush Luzula sylvatica and tuberous comfrey Symphytum tuberosum, with frequent slender false-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, and scattered male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas and lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina. South of the burn the vegetation is lusher with abundant male-fern, lady-fern, broad buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata, dog’s mercury and bluebell. wood avens Geum urbanum, herb Robert Geranium robertianum, ramsons Allium ursinum, hedge woundwort Stachys sylvatica and sanicle Sanicula europaea also occur here with opposite-leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria on damper ground by the water courses. Although not a notified feature of the site, the regionally rare goldilocks buttercup Ranunculus auricomus, and regionally scarce Saxifraga granulata occur at Craighall Den.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina LC fern woodsiaceae
broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata LC fern dryopteridaceae
male fern Dryopteris filix-mas LC fern dryopteridaceae
wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum LC grass poaceae
ramson Allium ursinum LC herb liliaceae
wood anemone Anemone nemorosa LC herb ranunculaceae
opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium LC herb saxifragaceae
meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria LC herb rosaceae
herb Robert Geranium robertianum LC herb geraniaceae
herb bennet Geum urbanum LC herb rosaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
goldilocks buttercup Ranunculus auricomus LC herb ranunculaceae
sanicle Sanicula europaea LC herb apiaceae
meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulata VU herb saxifragaceae
hedge woundwort Stachys sylvatica LC herb lamiaceae
tuberous comfrey Symphytum tuberosum Not listed in GB list herb boriginaceae
great wood rush Luzula sylvatica LC rush juncaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa Not listed in GB list shrub grossulariaceae
elder Sambucus nigra LC shrub caprifoliaceae
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
bird cherry Prunus padus LC tree rosaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Chequered skipper
Carterocephalus palaemon
Endangered Brachypodium sylvaticum
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp., Prunus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spp.
The v-moth
Macaria wauaria
Endangered Ribes uva-crispa
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Filipendula ulmaria, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
White-letter hairstreak
Satyrium w-album
Endangered Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp.
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Ulmus spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Prunus padus, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
The spinach
Eulithis mellinata
Vulnerable Ribes uva-crispa
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Filipendula ulmaria
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Brachypodium sylvaticum
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ribes uva-crispa, Ulmus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Ulmus glabra
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Geum urbanum
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Ranunculus spp.
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
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
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus 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 Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
White-spotted pug
Eupithecia tripunctaria
Near Threatened Sambucus nigra
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Brachypodium sylvaticum
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 17 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Allium ursinum, Anemone nemorosa, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Dryopteris filix-mas, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Geranium robertianum, Geum urbanum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, Quercus robur, Sambucus nigra, Stachys sylvatica, Ulmus glabra

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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 9 species from the description above: Brachypodium sylvaticum, Corylus avellana, Dryopteris filix-mas, Filipendula ulmaria, Geranium robertianum, Geum urbanum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, Stachys sylvatica

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

W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub

Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 1 species from the description above: Brachypodium sylvaticum

Hedera helix, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Achillea millefolium, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Jasione montana, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Teucrium scorodonia, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Pteridium aquilinum