 The site is situated on the slopes fringing the Lias Tablelands and is underlain by Rhaetic clays and, lower down the slope Keuper Red Marl.The slowly permeable clay soils are slightly calcareous in nature and this is reflected in elements of the flora.The site is characterised by the nationally rare Common Knapweed ("Centaurea nigra") and Crested Dog’s-tail ("Cynosurus cristatus") and dominant grasses include Sweet Vernal-grass ("Anthoxanthum odoratum"), Crested Dog’s-tail and Yorkshire Fog ("Holcus lanatus"), while Quaking Grass ("Briza media") and Yellow Oat-grass ("Trisetum flavescens") are also frequent.