- Bowerchalke Downs
Bowerchalke Downs (gbmapping|SU004218) (also known as Woodminton, Marleycombe Down and Knowle Down), is a 128.6
hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest inWiltshire , notified in 1971. The downs encompass the entire southern outlook of the village ofBowerchalke in theSalisbury district ofWiltshire , England, and are adjacent to both theHampshire andDorset county boundaries. The Bowerchalke Downs are located within the "Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire DownsArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty " and are part of theSouthern England Chalk Formation .Site of Special Scientific Interest
The
English Nature citation from 1971 states that -"This site is an extensive area of floristically rich chalk grassland, a habitat which has become increasingly scarce due to agricultural intensification. It lies along an escarpment of the
Middle Chalk overlooking the Ebble Valley in South Wiltshire and has slopes of several aspects. Present on the site are plant and animal species with a nationally restricted distribution." [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003230.pdf English Nature citation] ]"Most of the site comprises species-rich turf in which Sheep's Fescue "(Festuca Ovina)" and Meadow Oat-grass "(
Avenula pratensis )" are major components whilstQuaking grass "(Briza media )",Salad Burnet "(Sanguisorba minor )", Small Scabious "(Scabiosa columbaria)", and Cowslip "(Primula veris )" are widespread and frequent.""Several species considered indicative of continuous management in the absence of
fertilisers ,herbicides andploughing also occur throughout. These includeClustered Bellflower "(Campanula glomerata )",Frog Orchid "(Coeloglossum viride )", Chalk Milkwort "(Polygala calcarea )" andBetony "(Stachys officinalis )"."There is, however, much variety within the vegetation and several species that are generally scattered in the turf such as Glaucous Sedge "(
Carex flacca )", Spring-Sedge "(Carex caryophyllea )",Wild Carrot "(Daucus carota )" andKidney Vetch "(Anthyllis vulneraria )" show localised abundance.""Over quite extensive areas Dwarf Sedge "(
Carex humilis )" becomes dominant, a species largely restricted to the downs of south west Wiltshire and Dorset. Two other species with a localised national distribution are earlyGentian "(Gentianella anglica )" and Musk Orchid "(Herminium monorchis )". The latter is found in an area particularly rich inOrchids includingPyramidal Orchid "(Anacamptis pyramidalis )",Bee Orchid "(Ophrys apifera )", Common Spotted Orchid "(Dactylorhiza fuchsii )",Fragrant Orchid "(Gymnadenia conopsea )" andTwayblade "(Listera ovata )".""Where the sward has been more lightly grazed Upright Brome "(
Bromus erectus )", Hairy Oat-grass "(Avenula pubescens )",Cock's-foot "(Dactylis glomerata )" andFalse Oat-grass "(Arrhenatherum elatius )" become more predominant. Associated with these areherbs such asYellow Rattle "(Rhinanthus minor )",Greater Knapweed "(Centaurea scabiosa )" and Common Knapweed "(Centaurea nigra )" as well as species common to the whole site likeSalad Burnet and Cowslip. In these areas there are also colonies of Meadow Saxifrage "(Saxifraga granulata )" and small populations of both Greater Butterfly Orchid "(Platanthera chlorantha )" and Adder's-tongue "(Ophioglossum vulgatum )".""Scrub is scattered on some of the slopes becoming dense in one or two places. There is a diversity of
shrub andtree species; Hawthorn,blackthorn ,wayfaring tree ,gorse ,whitebeam ,hazel and ash.""
Anthill s produced by theyellow meadow ant "(Lasius flavus )" are a feature of several slopes. The grassland supports a variety ofbutterfly species includingDingy Skipper ,Dark Green Fritillary andCommon Blue . TheAdonis Blue is also found where its larval food plant,Horseshoe Vetch "(Hippocrepis comosa )" grows in favourable conditions. In Britain this butterfly is confined to a limited number of chalk andlimestone grassland sites in the south.""Birds typical of this habitat include
Skylark ,Corn Bunting ,Yellowhammer andGrey Partridge . BothGreen Woodpecker andGreat Spotted Woodpecker visit the site to feed andBuzzard andKestrel hunt the area."References
ource
* [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003230.pdf English Nature citation sheet for the site] (accessed 8 August 2006)
External links
* [http://www.english-nature.org.uk English Nature website] (SSSI information)
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