Skip to Content

Special Areas of Conservation

Prescombe Down

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
Centroid* ST986254
Latitude 51.0275
Longitude -2.0206
SAC EU Code UK0012553
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 75.6
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Prescombe Down SAC

General site character

  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (3%)
  • Dry grassland, Steppes (67%)
  • Improved grassland (30%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • 1654 Early gentian Gentianella anglica

    Prescombe Down is one of three sites selected in the central part of the range for early gentian Gentianella anglica. It holds very significant populations of hundreds of thousands of plants in high-quality chalk grassland that has been sympathetically managed for many years.

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.