Quarrington Hill Grasslands

Quarrington Hill Grasslands is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in County Durham, England. The site consists of three separate areas, two closely adjacent to the east of the village of Quarrington Hill, the third immediately west of the village, which lies 8 km south-east of Durham City.

Quarrington Hill Grasslands
Map showing the location of Quarrington Hill Grasslands
Map showing the location of Quarrington Hill Grasslands
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationMAGiC MaP
Nearest city City of Durham
Coordinates54°43′51″N 1°28′40″W / 54.73083°N 1.47778°W / 54.73083; -1.47778
Area4.49 ha (11.1 acres)
Established2000
Governing bodyNatural England
WebsiteQuarrington Hill Grasslands SSSI

The area is important for its magnesian limestone grassland communities, which are largely confined to County Durham and increasingly scarce even there. The grasslands at Quarrington Hill are typical of the type, being characterised by the presence of blue moor-grass, Sesleria albicans, and small scabious, Scabiosa columbaria. Less common species include common milkwort, Polygala vulgaris, hairy violet, Viola hirta, and wild carrot, Daucus carota. The nationally scarce dark-red helleborine, Epipactis atrorubens, is found at the site, as is basil thyme, Clinopodium acinos, a southern species that is uncommon this far north. [1]

The Durham Argus butterfly, Aricia artaxerxes salmacis, a form which is only found in the magnesian limestone areas of Durham, is known to breed at the site.

References

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  1. ^ "Quarrington Hill Grasslands : Reasons for SSSI status" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 1 April 2022.