Mappp.co geology and wildlife sites

Fordon Chalk Grasslands

Description Fordon Chalk Grasslands comprise one of the most varied grassland systems, in terms of their floristic richness, aspect and management regimes, remaining in the Wolds. The site comprises a disjunct series of…

Salisbury Plain

Description Salisbury Plain supports the largest known expanse of unimproved chalk downland in north west Europe and represents 41 percent of Britain's remaining area of this rich wildlife habitat. In Britain and north west Europe the majority of unimproved calcareous grasslan…

Seaford to Beachy Head

…gical and geological features. The diverse range of habitats includes herb rich chalk grassland, chalk heath a unique, rare habitat on chalk soils, maritime grassland, foreshore and chalk cliffs, river meanders and Greensand reef. Together, these habitats support a number of nati…

Purbeck Ridge (East)

…dge lies in south Dorset and extends for 15 kilometres westwards from the steep chalk of Ballard Cliffs on the sea coast to Povington Hill and westwards to Bindon Hill and Lulworth Cove, the latter section lying within the South Dorset Coast SSSI. Purbeck Ridge (East) comprises t…

Keasey Dale

…, 3.5 hectares 8.6 ac Description Keasey Dale consists of an area of unimproved chalk grassland on a north west facing dry valley slope to the south west of Huggate in the Yorkshire Wolds. The site is important as one of the best remaining examples of species rich northern chalk …

Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment

…abitats representative of the best of those found on the North Downs. Woodland, chalk grassland, chalk scrub and heathland form an interrelated mosaic which supports a wide diversity of characteristic plants and animals, of which many are local or rare. The site includes the Mole…

Moulsford Downs

… 11.3 hectares 28.0 ac Description This site comprises close grazed, unimproved chalk grassland, tall ungrazed chalk grassland, a small broad leaved plantation and scrub with standards. Many of these habitats are now uncommon on the Berkshire Downs as most landhas been cultivated…

Ringstead Downs

… 17.3 ac Description Ringstead Downs is a dry valley that has been cut through chalk strata by glacial meltwaters. The site has never been ploughed and as a result the valley sides support an excellent example of species rich chalk grassland. Such areas of unimproved chalk grass…

Seven Barrows

Area, 3.7 hectares 9.1 ac Description An area of unimproved chalk grassland situated in the Lambourn Downs near the border with Oxfordshire. The site has not been ploughed, due to the presence of the barrows which are the remains of Bronze Age burial chambers.…

Treyford to Bepton Down

…ent from Treyford to Bepton Down contains representative examples of unimproved chalk grassland and yew woodland developed on the Upper, Middle and Lower Chalk of the western South Downs. Both of these habitats are rare nationally, the area of unimproved chalk grassland in partic…

Wouldham to Detling Escarpment

Area, 296.3 ha. 732.15 ac. Description This 10 kilometre stretch of the chalk escarpment to the north of Maidstone includes representative examples of woodland, scrub and unimproved grassland habitats on chalk, which support a number of rare** and scarce* species of plant…

Inkpen and Walbury Hills

… Description Inkpen and Walbury Hills comprise the largest area of unimproved chalk downland in Berkshire, traditionally managed by grazing. The site also contains some of the best examples of ancient ash wych elm woods in the county. Other habitats include ungrazed rough grass…

Compton Chine to Steephill Cove

… notified for its vegetated maritime cliffs and slopes, species rich unimproved chalk grassland, nationally rare plant species, an assemblage of nationally scarce plants, an outstanding assemblage of nationally rare and scarce invertebrates, exposed and moderately exposed rocky s…

Arundel Park

…tant for overwintering species. The site also includes examples of species rich chalk grassland containing several plants uncommon in Sussex.Arundel Park is an old deer park consisting of a series of spurs and deep dry valleys on the Upper Chalk of the South Downs. Swanbourne Lak…

Saltbox Hill

Description Saltbox Hill encompasses a relic complex of chalk grassland and open scrub clearings on the slopes of a downland valley. The grassland contains a diverse flora of typical chalk downland species and is especially rich in plants with a restricted…

Red Lodge Heath

…a nationally important assemblage of invertebrates, chiefly associated with dry grassland and wet woodland with ponds, including a nationally important population of the nationally rare five banded tailed digger wasp Cerceris quinquefasciata. The site also supports a nationally i…

Aston Upthorpe Downs

…5.72 ac Description This site represents an important remnant of species rich chalk grassland and associated fauna in an area of the Berkshire Downs now given over, almost exclusively, to intensive arable farming. The variety of aspects and management have produced a range of c…

Heyshott Down

…rea, 42.2 ha. 104.2 ac. Description Heyshott Down is an example of unimproved chalk grassland, a nationally rare habitat which has declined in area in recent years. This site has an assemblage of bryophytes mosses and liverworts which is not known from any other site on chalk i…

Arreton Down

Description Arreton Down is the largest remaining area of chalk grassland on the central chalk ridge of the Isle of Wight. It is a grazed, south facing slope with a species rich sward and important populations of several locally distributed chalk downland bu…

Bacombe and Coombe Hills

Description This site supports a very species rich example of chalk grassland typical of this part of the Chilterns with juniper and areas of mixed scrub. The site also supports the entire UK population of fringed gentian Gentianopsis ciliata. Bacombe and Coomb…

Kingley Vale

…ture of Kingley Vale is the presence of stages in the development from scrub in grassland to mature woodland. In addition to the woodland, four nationally uncommon habitats are represented at the site, chalk grassland, chalk heath, juniper scrub and yew scrub. The site supports a…

Lullington Heath

…escription The primary importance of this site, which lies on Upper and Middle Chalk, is the presence of two nationally uncommon habitats, chalk heath and chalk grassland. Chalk heath communities have developed at this site on neutral loess soils and contain both plants adapted …

Cinquefoil Brow and Wood Dale

…ption Cinquefoil Brow and Wood Dale consist of two disjunct areas of unimproved chalk grassland situated in the dry valley complex to the east of Sledmere in the Yorkshire Wolds. The site is important as one of the best remaining examples of species rich chalk grassland of a type…

Wormsley Chalk Banks

…4.9 ac Description The Wormsley Valley contains several tracts of species rich chalk grassland containing plant and invertebrate communities with species which have suffered a drastic decline nationally and which collectively form the Wormsley Chalk Banks SSSI. The banks, which …

Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copses

… Description Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copses cover steep north and west facing chalk slopes. Above the junction of the two copses is a small, steeply sloping area of chalk grassland. The woodland represents one of the best examples of dry calcareous ash maple woodland over chalk…

Farthing Downs and Happy Valley

…ning in Greater London. The site is of particular interest for its species rich chalk and neutral grasslands and for an area of ancient woodland known as Devilsden Wood. These habitats hold a large variety of herb species of restricted distribution in the County, including some w…

Ladyhills

Description Ladyhills consists of an area of unimproved chalk grassland situated on both east and west facing dry valley slopes near Wintringham in the Yorkshire Wolds. The site is important as one of the best remaining examples of species rich northern ch…

Calbourne Down

Area, 15.4 hectares 38.05 ac Description The Chalk ridge that traverses the Isle of Wight from east to west widens in the centre of the Island to a plateau. Calbourne Down lies on the northern edge of this plateau. It occupies steep south and we…

Grime's Graves

…s arranged in a series of parallel stripes which alternate with bands of acidic grassland. This pattern reflects differences in the composition of the underlying drift. The stripes are considered to have formed periglacially during the Devensian Glaciation. The acid grassland tha…

Beeding Hill to Newtimber Hill

…ical importance. Three nationally uncommon habitats are represented, south east chalk grassland, juniper scrub and calcareous pedunculate oak ash beech woodland. The site supports a rich community of invertebrates, especially harvestmen and has some uncommon butterflies and moths…

Gog Magog Golf Course

Area, 86.3 hectares 213.1 ac Description This site supports grassland communities of the calcareous chalk grassland type. Such grasslands are geographically restricted to scattered areas throughout south, central and eastern England where the influence is not …

Woldingham & Oxted Downs

…Downs where these reach their greatest height in Surrey. The site includes rich chalk grassland, scrub and mature and secondary woodland supporting many species of characteristic plants and animals, a number of which are rare. Soils of the site are derived mostly from the underly…

Headon Warren and West High Down

…es/ Acres, 276.25/682.6 Description This site comprises parallel Tertiary and chalk ridges. The former, Headon Warren, supports mainly acid, heath vegetation and the latter species rich chalk grassland. The cliffs of Alum Bay to Totland Bay are geologically important as a class…

Chanctonbury Hill

Area, 78.6 ha. 194.22 ac. Description This site lies on the steep chalk escarpment of the South Downs and is dominated by a nationally uncommon woodland type. There are also areas of chalk grassland, another habitat that has a restricted distribution nationally. The…

Windsor Hill

…ent above Princes Risborough containing fine examples of beech woods, scrub and chalk grassland. The woodlands harbour a legally protected orchid species. The scrub includesan important colony of juniper and an ancient hedge. The grasslands contain a wide range of chalk plants an…

Long Knoll

Description Long Knoll is the most westerly area of chalk grassland in Wiltshire. It encompasses a number of botanically diverse grassland communities and supports several plant species which are particularly associated with the western chalklands of B…

Totternhoe Knolls

Area, 13.08 hectares 32.32 ac Description Totternhoe Knolls is a remnant of a chalk downland with characteristic species rich calcareous grassland flora. Situated on a bluff of the lower chalk the site incorporates a Norman earthworks and old stone quarry workings. Chalk grassl…

Holies Down

Description The site comprises an area of unimproved chalk grassland, a habitat now becoming increasingly rare in Berkshire. This is grazed and supports a large number of species of flowering plants in close association. About 180 hectares of chalk gras…

Brickworth Down and Dean Hill

… Brickworth Down and Dean Hill SSSI occupies a long north facing scarp of Upper Chalk to the south west of Salisbury. It comprises high quality chalk grassland with nationally restricted plant and invertebrate species, extensive and healthily regenerating juniper scrub and the la…

Rew Down

Area, 23.5 hectares 58.06 ac Description Rew Down is a steep south facing chalk slope capped with superficial Pleistocene gravel exhibiting a wide range of soils and supporting a diversity of species rich plant communities. The occurrence of both strongly acid soils on the …

Garston's Down

Description Garstons Down is one of the few examples of chalk grassland unaffected by maritime influences on the Isle of Wight and is one of only a few chalk grasslands unaffected by modern agricultural improvements in the centre of the island. The site co…

Throope Down

…anically rich sheep's fescue, meadow oat grass Festuca ovina, Avenula pratensis chalk grassland with associated butterflies. The grassland has developed on Middle Chalk and lies south west of Salisbury. It is partially situated on the sides of a shallow dry valley and has slopes …

Otford to Shoreham Downs

…rea, 147.3 ha. 363.7 ac. Description This site includes areas of species rich chalk grassland and chalk scrub and woodlands on a variety of soils. It supports a range of scarce and rare invertebrates. The site lies in the valley where the River Darent has cut through the chalk …

Upton Cow Down

Description Upton Cow Down is an area of botanically rich chalk grassland at the extreme western end of Salisbury Plain. The Plain is the largest expanse of unimproved chalk grassland in northwest Europe. Elsewhere in Britain some 80 percent of this habitat …

Roundway Down and Covert

Description Roundway Down is an extensive tract of chalk downland which supports a rich unimproved grassland flora with smaller areas of mixed scrub. The adjacent Roundway Covert is a complex mixture of woodland, scrub and chalk grassland. Together Ro…

Waterdale

Area, 36.34 hectares 90.0 ac Description Waterdale is one of the most important chalk grassland sites known in the Yorkshire Wolds, consisting of an east west main dale and parts of two side dales. It is particularly important as a species rich site containing a variety of north …

Warham Camp

…ng of earthworks in the form of steep banks and ditches which support a diverse chalk grassland flora. Unimproved chalk grassland is now very rare in Norfolk and this site supports several locally uncommon plants. The site is also of some entomological interest with several speci…

Totternhoe Chalk Quarry

…t which has been much quarried in the past. It supports species rich unimproved chalk grassland which has close affinities with that of the nearby Totternhoe Knolls SSSI. The grassland includes a mosaic of plant associations related to the uneven terrain and variety of aspects. T…

Wells Chalk Pit

Description Wells Chalk Pit is an occasionally worked quarry with areas of well established chalk grassland and scrub. A diverse flora, with exceptionally large populations of orchids, is developing in those parts of t…

Compton Down

Description Compton Down SSSI occupies 4.5 kilometres of the east–west chalk anticline of the Isle of Wight and includes both the south and north facing slopes and crest of the ridge. It is probably the best example in Britain of chalk grassland under maritime influence.…

Mottistone Down

Area, 31.41 hectares Description Mottistone Down is one of a series of chalk and neutral grasslands extending along the main east west chalk ridge of the Isle of Wight. Collectively and individually they are of great scientific and nature conservation importance for the …

Broughton Down

Area, 44.7 hectares 110.4 ac Description A mainly north east facing chalk escarpment exhibiting a succession of chalk vegetation seral stages from open, grazed chalk grassland, through scrub of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, elder Sambucus nigra, buckthorn Rhamnus catha…

Sheepleas

… the North Downs. It includes examples of pedunculate oak ash beech woodland on chalk and several fragments of south east chalk grassland, both of which are nationally rare habitats. The combination of woodland, scrub and grassland communities supports a considerable diversity of…

Whitehorse Hill

…c The site covers the deep coombe of the Manger cut into the scarp face of the chalk escarpment where it rises to a crest at Whitehorse Hill and is representative of so many chalk coombes in the south of England. The scarp face below Whitehorse Hill is formed of Lower and Middle…

Newmarket Heath

Description This site lies on the Middle Chalk near Newmarket. It is by far the largest expanse of unimproved chalk grassland remaining in Cambridgeshire. Grasslands of this type are now very scarce in Britain, largely as a result of reclama…

Kingston Escarpment & Iford Hill

…4 ha. 159.1 ac. Description Kingston Escarpment comprises two separate areas of chalk downland on the steep scarp slopes south of Kingston. This site is important for its chalk grassland, a habitat type which is rapidly becoming rarer owing to widespread agricultural improvement …

Firle Escarpment

Area, 301.3 ha. 744.6 ac. Description An extensive stretch of chalk grassland on north facing slopes of the South Downs. The diverse flora includes several unusual plants and one that is nationally rare. Chalk grassland is now a nationally uncommon habitat due t…

Stockbridge Down

…, 69.5 hectares 171.7 ac Description Stockbridge Down comprises a wide range of chalk scrub and grassland communities occupying a north west facing chalk scarp and an extensive plateau on clay with flints. The various stages in seral development, ranging from short sward chalk gr…

Wye and Crundale Downs

…erest This site contains a mosaic of different habitats including species rich chalk grassland, neutral grassland, calcareous fen meadow communities, scrub and woodland on chalk, and wet alder woodland. The grassland and woodland contain outstanding assemblages of plants includi…

Burcombe Down

Description Burcombe Down supports botanically rich, grazed, chalk grassland on a north facing scarp slope of the Middle Chalk and on the sides of a dry valley running south west to north east. Nationally restricted plant species are present in the turf. A flat…

Rushmore and Conholt Downs

….7 ac Description The Site of Special Scientific Interest comprises a series of chalk grassland habitats occupying a system of coombes in a folded chalk plateau. The coombe bottoms and westerly facing slopes support substantial tracts of chalk grassland which comprise a mosaic of…

Knapp and Barnett's Downs

Description Knapp and Barnett's Downs form a large area of botanically rich chalk grassland, south west of Salisbury. The site supports a grassland community which is rare in Britain and which includes uncommon plants and invertebrates. The area of chalk grassland in Britain …

Odstock Down

…12.l ha. 29.9 ac. Description Odstock Down is a floristically diverse area of chalk grassland typical of the South Western chalk. The turf is chiefly of the sheep's fescue meadow oat grass Festuca ovina Avenula pratensis community and contains a number of nationally rare plants…

Burghclere Beacon

Description Burghclere Beacon is a dome of chalk grassland crowned by an Iron Age hill fort, at the northern margin of the Hampshire chalk plateau. The site includes an extensive stand of juniper Juniperus communis, privet Ligustrum vulgare, b…

Clayton to Offham Escarpment

…24.3 ac. Total 429.6 ha. 1061.5 ac. Description This extensive site lies on the chalk escarpment and dip slope of the South Downs. The nationally uncommon chalk grassland habitat dominates much of the site but woodland and scrub is better represented here than on the other chalk …

Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit

Area, 4.037 hectares 9.98 ac Description Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit consists of a revegetated quarry of 3 hectares bounded to the south by a disused railway line and to the north by a nearly vertical quarry face some 10 metres high, above which is a further …

Dover to Kingsdown Cliffs

…many rare species. Biology The vegetation of the cliff tops consists mainly of chalk grassland interspersed with areas of scrub. Much of the grassland is dominated by tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum or upright brome Bromus erectus, though there are numerous areas of species rich…

Rotherley Downs

Description Rotherley Downs is an area with diverse chalk grassland, scrub and woodland communities and supports several uncommon plants and invertebrates. Species rich chalk downland in Britain is a habitat which has declined by 80 percent since 1940,…

Win Green Down

Area, 26.0 ha. 64.3 ac. Description Win Green Down is an area of highly diverse chalk grassland with a rich flora including species of a nationally restricted distribution. The site extends for two kilometres along a predominantly north facing escarpment, which spans moderate to …

Westfield Farm Chalk Bank

Description Westfield Farm is a chalk grassland bank on the north facing scarp of the Berkshire Downs. There has been a drastic decline in chalk grassland since the 1940s due to changing agricultural practices and nowhere has this b…

Camp Down

Area, 7.3 ha. 18.2 ac. Description The site is a well grazed botanically rich chalk grassland overlooking the Avon Valley near Salisbury. The downland is rich in plants characteristic of South Wiltshire chalk grasslands, including several species of nationally restricted distri…

King's Play Hill

…ay Hill is a botanically rich example of upright brome Bromus erectus dominated chalk grassland and supports both locally and nationally rare species. Subsidiary areas of species rich scrub add to the interest. The site occupies a predominantly north west facing scarp of Lower C…

White Shute

Area, 2.0 hectares 5.0 ac Description An area of chalk downland on a steep south west facing slope situated near the River Lambourn in west Berkshire. Following extensive agricultural improvement of the Berkshire Downs, particularly in the 1940s and…

Cissbury Ring

Description Cissbury Ring is an ancient hill fort site situated on chalk. The main biological interest of the site centres on the areas of unimproved chalk grassland, a habitat type which has become rare nationally through being under constant threat from agricultura…

Quarry Hangers

Area, 33.5 ha. 82.8 ac. Description This site encompasses an area of chalk downland on the scarp slope of the North Downs near Caterham. It includes a mixture of species rich chalk grassland, scrub and woodland and supports a number of plants which are rare or local in…

Higher Houghton

…, 139.0 ha. 343.5 ac. Description This site, which covers three dry valleys in chalk with adjacent plateau, has grassland and woodland of great diversity reflecting variation in its soils. The chalk grassland and scrub communities are particularly rich and well developed and pro…

Down Bank

… a steep south east facing slope and includes both unimproved and semi improved chalk grassland with some areas of scrub and the edge of an ancient broad leaved woodland. These habitats support a diverse assemblage of plants including two nationally scarce* species, a nationally …

Hog's Hole

Description An area of traditionally managed chalk downland and scrub supporting a diverse flora and fauna. The site represents one of the largest intact areas of unimproved chalk grassland in the north Wessex Downs area and has a special signif…

Alkham, Lydden and Swingfield Woods

…ions. This site comprises several woodlands situated on the steep slopes of dry chalk valleys. The soils vary from calcareous loams on the slopes to acid neutral clays on the plateaux. Ash hazel is the main woodland type with field maple on the more calcareous soils and hornbeam …

Lewes Downs

…and which forms part of the South Downs. It is important for the extremely rich chalk grassland and scrub vegetation, which contains a number of southern and oceanic southern species as well as a nationally rare orchid. The site also supports a rich invertebrate fauna including a…

Alderford Common

… and topography. A thin layer of glacial sands and gravels cover the underlying chalk which is exposed in abandoned marl workings. A diverse chalk flora has developed in the old pits and the site forms the only remaining example of species rich chalk grassland in East Norfolk. A …

Berins Hill Bank

…ription This north facing bank is a relic of the formerly widespread unimproved chalk grassland and scrub habitats of the Chilterns. It is situated on shallow, well drained calcareous silty soils of the Upton 1 series over chalk. The chalk grassland at Berins Hill is particularly…

Cockthorpe Common, Stiffkey

…ed in the valley of the River Stiffkey where the steep slopes support a diverse chalk grassland flora. Unimproved chalk downland is now rare in Norfolk and Cockthorpe Common is considered to be one of the best remaining examples. The flora is extremely rich and includes a number …

Cley Hill

Area, 26.6 ha. 65.7 ac. Description Cley Hill is an area of botanically rich chalk grassland, supporting many of the plants characteristic of the downs of south and south west England. The value of the site is enhanced by the occurrence of plant and animal species with a natio…

Folkestone Warren

…nd encompasses the range of marine and terrestrial habitats associated with the chalk cliffs and with the underlying Gault clay and Lower Greensand exposed at the eastern end of the site. These habitats support outstanding assemblages of plants and invertebrates, together with in…

East Walton and Adcock's Common

…nt. Both are notable for a complex set of basin shaped depressions separated by chalky ridges which were formed under periglacial conditions. Active springs are also a feature. This varied topography has resulted in a mosaic of habitats ranging from fen or occasionally open wate…

West Woodhay Down

Area, 1.395ha 3.44 ac. Description A small relict area of unimproved chalk grassland on the Upper Chalk of the Berkshire Downs, on the Hampshire border. The site comprises a steep, northwest facing roadside bank and a track leading down the county boundary. The bank is…

Galboly

…e, Hieracium basalticola, Higher plant assemblage, Irish whitebeam Calcareous grassland, Dry heath, Inland rock, Intertidal rock, Mixed ashwoods Cretaceous stratigraphy, Mass movement, Tertiary igneous The area is of special scientific interest because of its geological and g…

Riddlesdown

… long established calcareous scrub in Greater London and also for its herb rich chalk grassland. The variety of shrub and tree species within the scrub is unusually diverse for the county and includes a particularly high abundance of mature yew Taxus baccata. The site also contai…

Fleam Dyke

Area, 24 hectares 59 ac Description The Fleam Dyke holds chalk scrub and species rich chalk grassland communities which are of a very limited distribution in south, central and eastern England and especially rare in Cambridgeshire. The site is a linear eart…

Cow Cliff Pasture and Quarry

…cription Cow Cliff Pasture and Quarry is a small site consisting of unimproved chalk grassland below an area of cultivated ground and neighbouring disused chalk quarry. The site is important for an abundance of thistle broomrape Orobanche reticulata* which is associated with cre…

Queendown Warren

Area, 22.2 ha. 54.8 ac. Description In the grassland and woodland of this site two nationally rare plant species occur. In addition an outstanding assemblage of plants is present. The grassland and woodland of this site are on the south facing…

Brockley Warren

…hectares 31.13 ac Description This is the largest of the few remaining areas of chalk grassland and chalk scrub on the Hampshire chalk plateau as opposed to escarpment sites. It supports a mosaic of chalk scrub mainly of juniper Juniperus communis, bramble Rubus fruticosus and ha…

Claxby Chalk Pit

…, 2.2 ha. 5.4 ac. Description A particularly fine example of Lincolnshire Wolds chalk grassland, which only survives in disused quarries or on steep, unploughable slopes. Since this grassland is in the context of an old chalk pit, its value is increased for it represents a stage …

Millfield Wood

…lfield Wood, This site is a rare example of semi natural Chiltern beech wood on chalk containing a substantial amount of relic wych elm coppice. Despite its relatively small size the wood supports an unusually rich ground flora which includes nationally restricted species. Situat…

Foulden Common

…ge of habitats, from open water and rich fen through both acidic and calcareous grassland to birch woodland. This habitat mosaic, reflecting variation in topography, soil type and water regime supports a large number of plant and animal species including many national rarities. L…

Knettishall Heath

…Breckland and consists of a large area of unimproved dwarf ericaceous heath and grassland on mainly acidic soils. A chalk grassland flora has developed where fragments of chalk occur in the underlying soils. Secondary woodland is represented and there are also wet hollows with a …

Bembridge Down

…5 metre vertical face of Culver Cliff which forms the eastern most limit of the chalk ridge on the Isle of Wight. To the east and south of the chalk ridge a geologically important, continuous succession from the Wealden Beds to the Upper Greensand occurs in the cliff section. Thi…

Fayland Chalk Bank

Description A gently sloping, south facing area of chalk grassland and scrub supporting a diverse flora. The site supports several species of flowering plants which are uncommon or local in the county and provides a diverse habitat for insects, birds …

Chipstead Downs

… the North Downs, the Chipstead Downs complex includes areas of steeply sloping chalk grassland with associated scrub and secondary woodland, as well as large areas of ancient woodland over clay with flints on the plateau. Banstead Wood occupies an extensive area of the plateau.…

Therfield Heath

Description Therfield Heath is a very good example of the East Anglian type of chalk grassland. This plant community has suffered severe losses throughout its range during the post war period, mainly as a result of agricultural intensification or the cessation of sheep grazing, …

Old Burghclere Lime Quarry

…ime works at Old Burghclere exhibits various stages in the succession from bare chalk on the steep quarry sides through chalk grassland to scattered and dense scrub. Actively worked into the beginning of this century, some of the quarry faces have not had time to become completel…

Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills

…cription Between Sundon and Streatley, on the steep sinuous north facing Lower Chalk escarpment are areas of unimproved calcareous grassland with a rich assemblage of characteristic plants. The natural process of habitat change is amply illustrated by the formation of species ri…

Halling to Trottiscliffe Escarpment

…area of the North Downs west of the 'Medway Gap'. The site is representative of chalk grassland in west Kent and beech woodland on the chalk. Outstanding assemblages of plants and invertebrates are present. A mosaic of habitats is present at this site with areas of grassland, scr…

Little Heath, Barnham

… 36.94 ac. Description Little Heath supports a mixture of calcareous and acid grassland and areas of self sown, invasive woodland, both coniferous and deciduous. In the northern end of the site an interesting area of open calcareous Breck grassland occurs as a mosaic with acid …

Lardon Chase

…ing downland slope forming one of the largest remaining fragments of unimproved chalk grassland on the Berkshire Downs in Berkshire. The grassland is mainly a coarse Bromus erectus dominated sward which is cattle grazed for part of the year. A good range of typical chalk grasslan…

Stockton Wood and Down

Area, 61.5 ha. 151.8 ac. Description The site consists of chalk grassland, scrub and woodland and supports a diverse flora including several rare or notable species. In addition, certain parts demonstrate very well the succession from grassland through scrub…

Banstead Downs

…prises extensive areas of dense and scattered scrub, woodland and areas of open chalk grassland most of which are golf course and public open space. The diversity of habitats makes this an important site for breeding and overwintering birds and several groups of invertebrates are…

Great Cheverell Hill

…2 ha. 82.1 ac. Description great Cheverell Hill is an area of botanically rich chalk grassland on the northern edge of Salisbury Plain. Species rich chalk downland in great Britain has declined by 80 percent since 1940 mainly through agricultural intensification and Wiltshire no…

Kenninghall & Banham Fens with Quidenham Mere

…iver Whittle. It consists of areas of tall fen, species rich fen and calcareous grassland Kenninghall Fen and Banham great Fen and a deep natural mere Quidenham Mere. Additional interest is provided by areas of wet woodland and by an area of drier unmanaged fen. Kenninghall Fen i…

Field Barn Heaths, Hilborough

…Description This site consists of an area of species rich calcareous and mixed grassland situated close to the northern edge of the Breckland region. The soils are typical light sandy tills with flints overlying chalk and the characteristic Breck grassland communities are mainta…

Gallows Hill

Area, 27.8 ha. 68.7 ac. Description This site encompasses botanically diverse chalk grassland and scrub containing animal and plant species of a nationally restricted distribution. Species rich downland is a habitat that has been greatly diminished throughout the country due to…

Wilmington Downs

…8.2 ha. 514.5 ac. Description This site is dominated by the nationally uncommon chalk grassland habitat on the steep escarpment of the South Downs. In addition to a representative chalk flora the site holds two nationally rare invertebrates and several notable ones. The grassland…

Little Blakenham Pit

Description This site consists of former chalk workings which support one of the few examples of chalk grassland flora in East Suffolk. Amongst the more unusual plants present is the locally rare greater broomrape Orobanche rapum-genistae. A…

Silbury Hill

Area, 2.3 ha. 5.6 ac. Description Silbury Hill is an area of botanically rich chalk grassland on steep slopes exhibiting the full range of aspects. Although an artificial earthwork the hill is composed of local chalk, constructed several thousand years ago, allowing the develop…

Valley of Stones

…of Portesham in southern Dorset and consists of dry valleys and slopes on Upper Chalk, with overlying deposits of pebbly clay and sand and Bagshot Beds in the eastern part of the site. The site is famous for its fine train of sarsen stones and also contains a diverse range of uni…

Hollingbourne Downs

… a variety of habitats characteristic of calcareous soils, including unimproved chalk grassland and beech woodland with oak and ash. A number of plant species indicative of the chalk soils are present, including the rare mat grass fescue Vulpia unilateralis, musk orchid Herminium…

Porton Down

…a, 1561.84 ha. Description This site is notified for its unimproved calcicolous grassland communities of the following types. Sheep's fescue Festuca ovina Avenula pratensis grassland, Cirsium acaule Asperula cynanchica typical sub community and the Pseudoscleropodium purum Prunel…

Roughdown Common

Description Roughdown Common is a small area of calcareous grassland on the north facing chalk escarpment in the clay with flints region of the county. The sward has a rich assemblage of plant species. Unimproved calcareous grassland has been greatly reduced …

Ivinghoe Hills

Area, 524.66 ac Description Unimproved calcareous grassland, semi natural woodland, scrub and more intensively used and improved grass and arable are contained within this, one of the largest biologically rich areas of chalk downland surviving in the…

Levin Down

Area, 27.7 ha. 68.44 ac. Description Levin Down is situated on the upper chalk of the South Downs and comprises most of the south facing slope of a small hill. It is an extremely good representative example of southeastern chalk grassland, supporting a wide variety of herb…

Homington and Coombe Bissett Downs

…on and Coombe Bissett Downs SSSI encompasses several blocks of botanically rich chalk grassland, a habitat which has suffered substantial decline nationally, due to agricultural intensification. Several animal and plant species of a restricted distribution in Britain are well est…

Black Ditches, Cavenham

…te has never been ploughed and as a result an excellent example of species rich chalk grassland has developed on the flanks and crest of the bank. Such areas of unimproved chalk grass land are now extremely rare in East Anglia and the importance of this site is increased further …

Brantingham Dale

…ntly north westerly and south easterly aspects support a mosaic of species rich chalk grassland amid extensive areas of scrub invasion and young woodland. In a recent 1982/83 comprehensive botanical survey of chalk grassland in the Yorkshire Wolds, Brantingham Dale was one of 11 …

Purbeck Ridge (West)

Purbeck Ridge West SSSI Description This site lies on the Upper Chalk of the Purbeck escarpment over which are superficial deposits of Clay with Flints. It includes a large area of mainly north-facing broad-leaved woodland as well as well as calcareous and acid gr…

Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs

Area, 167.5 ha. 413.7 ac. Description This coastal site comprises the length of chalk cliff stretching from Black Rock, Brighton in the west to Castle Hill, Newhaven in the east and includes the wave cut platform at the cliff base. Although the main interest of the site is geolog…

The Coombs, Hinton Parva

Description The Coombes, Hinton Parva, is an area of botanically rich chalk grassland, a habitat nationally much reduced by agricultural intensification. Lying six miles to the south east of Swindon and overlying Lower Chalk and Pleistocene Head deposits of the Marlboro…

Warren Bank

…, 3.1 hectares 7.5 ac Description This site supports examples of the unimproved chalk grassland and scrub habitats which were formerly widespread in the southern Chilterns, but which have now largely been ploughed and converted to arable or re seeded pasture. Warren Bank is situa…

Castle Hill

…tion This is one of the best examples in East Sussex of the nationally uncommon chalk grassland habitat. The variation of plant and animal communities with aspect and slope is of special ecological interest. Two nationally rare species occur at Castle Hill. The chalk grassland is…

Chinnor Hill

…e of the Chilterns escarpment, supports examples of the species rich calcareous grassland and mixed scrub communities which have declined in area in Oxfordshire this century, together with stands of juniper scrub, an uncommon habitat with a distinct invertebrate fauna. The site h…

Cherry Hinton Pit

…uncommon plant species which occur on the site. In addition, areas of herb rich chalk grassland are present and these represent a habitat type which has almost disappeared from the eastern counties of England. Of the four uncommon plants present, three are listed in the British R…

Mid Colne Valley

…On the eastern valley slope is one of the last remaining examples of unimproved chalk grassland in Greater London. The site represents a cross section of the River Colne flood plain and the adjoining valley slopes; these rise abruptly to the east and west and lie on Upper Chalk w…

Fairmile Bottom

…ttom lies on a north west facing scarp slope of the South Downs where the Upper Chalk is covered by a thin layer of clay with flints. The site contains yew Taxus baccata woodland and scrub as well as unimproved chalk grassland, which are all nationally rare communities. Mature wo…

Butser Hill

Description Butser Hill is a chalk massif with a discontinuous cap of clay with flints. The massif has been eroded to leave a series of deep combes in which the modern spring line is about one kilometre from the combe head. The c…

Ventnor Downs

Area, 162.60 hectares 401.78 ac Description The site comprises a dog leg chalk ridge capped with 5 metres or more of angular flint gravel. The gravel capping supports extensive tracts of gorse Ulex europaeus with intervening areas of heathland and acid grassland dominated …

Orwell Clunch Pit

Area, 1.8 hectares 4.4 ac Description Orwell Pit supports a rich chalk grassland flora, a community type which is scarce in eastern England. Only small fragments now remain on the chalklands of Cambridgeshire. The rim and the steep slopes of the chalk pit are parti…

Ham Hill

Description Ham Hill is a small but remarkable area of chalk grassland supporting a diverse assemblage of plants and a wide variety of associated butterflies. The majority of the site occupies the steep banks of an ancient sunken trackway forming a cuttin…

Bratton Downs

…nditions. Biologically the site is diverse, comprising species rich calcareous grassland and ancient broad leaved woodland. Both of these habitats have become increasingly uncommon in Britain since 1940, following agricultural intensification and conversion to plantation respect…

West Harting Down

Area, 13.9 ha. 34.3 ac. Description An area of mature woodland on the Upper Chalk of the South Downs, which is chiefly composed of mature yew Taxus baccata trees, many of which are over one hundred years old. Developing yew scrub and small areas of chalk grassland are also fe…

Rowridge Valley

…he Rowridge Valley SSSI comprises heavily wooded slopes and associated areas of chalk grassland, bracken and scrub at the head of a dry valley. The valley is of considerable ecological importance as the largest and best preserved area of ancient semi natural broadleaved woodland …

Wylye and Church Dean Downs

…tion Wylye and Church Dean Downs are two extensive blocks of floristically rich chalk grassland, supporting the third largest British colony of tuberous thistle Cirsium tuberosum, together with several other species of nationally restricted distribution. Lying on gentle and there…

Amberley Mount to Sullington Hill

Area, 181.2 ha. 447.7 ac. Description This site contains some of the richest chalk grassland in Sussex on the scarp slope of the South Downs and in two south west facing coombes. It also includes the rare juniper scrub habitat and is the locality of several nationally restrict…

Fowlmere Watercress Beds

… Fowlmere Watercress Beds occupy the former moorland lying in a low area on the chalk where the most extensive springs in the county are to be found. A variety of habitats are present ranging from open shallow water, extensive areas of tall fen vegetation, willow carr and, on the…

Duncton to Bignor Escarpment

…eep scarp face of the South Downs. All stages in the ecological succession from chalk grassland through scrub to woodland are represented here and this range of habitats accounts for the interest of the site. The escarpment is the locality of a rare fern, a rare snail and a notab…

Downe Bank and High Elms

Area,86.8 hectares 214.6 ac Description An area of woodland and chalk grassland on the western slope of a northward running dry valley in the North Downs. The woodland at the top of the escarpment is chiefly beech and oak. Lower down is an area of hazel coppice wi…

Homefield Wood

…ntations with abundant scrub, within which are rides and glades where herb rich chalk grassland of exceptional variety and interest occurs. The site is also notable for its invertebrate and bird life. The plantations are mainly of beech, some interplanted with Serbian spruce Pice…

Combe Bottom

…arp slope of the North Downs. The steep slopes are formed from Upper and Middle Chalk overlain in some places by clay with flints and are mostly covered by woodland and scrub, with a small relict area of unimproved chalk downland. There is an important stand of juniper scrub, whi…

Willingdon Down

Description An area of species rich chalk grassland on steep slopes at the eastern end of the South Downs. This habitat type is now nationally uncommon. Willingdon Down has a good representative flora but several plants with a more rest…

East Harling Common

Area, 14.9 hectares 37.0 ac Description East Harling Common, situated on chalk on the eastern edge of the Norfolk Breckland, is of great importance for its system of periglacial ground ice depressions pingos retaining a relict community of aquatic beetles which, together w…

Cockey Down

Area, 15.2 ha. 37.6 ac. Description Cockey Down is an area of botanically rich chalk grassland, a habitat which has become increasingly scarce with the intensification of modern agriculture. The considerable variety of calcareous plants growing here includes two nationally restr…

Coulters Dean

Area, 1.91 hectares 2.69 ac Description Coulters Dean is a small area of chalk grassland on a west facing fold in the South Downs escarpment and is of considerable scientific interest because a its flora has been recorded at intervals since 1914; b its flora and invertebra…

High Barn, Oxcombe

Area,8.2 hectares 20.3 ac Description The unimproved chalk grassland covering the slopes of this dry valley is one of the best remaining examples of a species rich chalkland community once widespread over the Lincolnshire Wolds. The steepness of the val…

Giant Hill

…alley of the River Cerne, the site provides a typical example of Central Dorset Chalk Grasslands. Additionally there are small areas at the tops of the slopes with communities which have developed on the acid capping of Clay with Flints. The swards are generally close grazed and …

Bradenham Woods, Park Wood & The Coppice

…haracteristic of both the acid Clay with flints of the Chiltern plateau and the chalk and various deposits of the valley slopes. The shrub and ground flora reflects these contrasts and contains several species which are nationally or locally rare. The interest is further enhanced…

Park Wood, Chilham

…Description This site is a good representative of long established woodland on chalk soils in Kent. It is largely hazel and hornbeam coppice under oak standards, with diverse scrub and ground layers. Several plant species characteristic of calcareous soils are present, including…

Winklebury Hill

…on Winklebury Hill is an extensive and topographically varied area of herb rich chalk grassland supporting several plants and a butterfly of restricted British distribution. This habitat has become increasingly uncommon and fragmented with the intensification of modern agricultur…

Botley Down

Area, 12.71 ha Description Botley Down is an area of chalk downland supporting a rich flora and a variety of associated butterflies. It is located to the east of the Vale of Pewsey at the intersection of the chalk of Salisbury Plain, the Hampshire Downs…

Bowerchalke Downs

… ha. 317.7 ac. Description 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…

Great Yews

…s baccata and contains many large individual trees. It is situated on the Upper Chalk south of Salisbury. It is unusual in lying on gently sloping ground most yew woods being on steep slopes and also in having a long history as an area of yew. In particular the land is marked as …

Hog Cliff

…rea of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the site comprises downland slopes with rich grassland communities typical of the chalk of west-central Dorset on a range of aspects. Areas of scrub and a small amount of old woodland add diversity to this site. The grassland varies considerabl…

Pentridge Down

Description Pentridge Down is the largest surviving area of unimproved chalk downland in eastern Dorset lying midway between Blandford and Salisbury, close to Martin Down National Nature Reserve. The smaller outliers such as Oakley Down and Blackbush Down are relicts of …

Fontmell and Melbury Downs

…9 ha. 711.3 ac. Description This large site, comprising part of the edge of the chalk escarpment holds unimproved chalk grassland and scrub communities which are typical of northeast Dorset and have high botanical and entomological interest. The grassland shows wide variety relat…

Berner's Heath, Icklingham

…ominated heath in the Breckland, as well as smaller areas of lichen rich acidic grassland, calcareous grassland, scrub and secondary woodland. A large part of the heath dominated heath is divided into blocks by a series of rides and heather of different ages is present in differe…

Haydon and Askerswell Downs

Haydon and Askerswell SSSI Description An extensive area of steep chalk slopes with all aspects, presenting an especially good example of calcareous grassland at the western extremity of the chalk. Most of the site has a short well-grazed turf with sheep’s fescue F…

Shide Quarry

….8 ac Description Shide Quarry is a deep pit sunk into an escarpment of Upper Chalk. The vegetation is of considerable biological interest and all stages in a succession from bare chalk rock through a chalk grassland plant community to tall scrub and emergent ash Fraxinus excel…

Baverstock Juniper Bank

… of the five largest colonies in Wiltshire. The bank comprises botanically rich chalk grassland which, ungrazed for many years, has been colonised by a wide variety of shrub species of which juniper forms a large proportion. Juniper has suffered a national decline in numbers over…

Devil's Dyke

…The Devil’s Dyke holds one of the best and most extensive areas of species rich chalk grassland in the county and a similarly extensive area of chalk scrub grading into woodland to the east. The grassland is of a type characteristic to chalklands of south, central and eastern Eng…

Barton Hills

Description Immediately south of Barton, the chalk escarpment forms a natural amphitheatre. At its head and along the eastern side, rising abruptly from the flat valley floor are steep sided, rounded hills still retaining an extensive cover of u…

Folkington Reservoir

…he slopes of the South Downs above Folkington village. The banks support a rich chalk grassland flora with abundant orchids and the top is the only known locality in the county for the rare and protected hairy mallow Malva setigera, a species listed on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife …

Purple Hill

Area, 15.1 ha. 37.3 ac. Description The site includes areas of chalk grassland, scrub and woodland. The grassland is of the upright brome Bromus erectus, sheep's fescue Festuca ovina type and is extremely herb rich, with one nationally rare plant species occurrin…

Lodge Hill

… the Chilterns, known for its archaeological interest and supporting a range of chalk grassland and scrub communities. The grasslands support various chalkl and butterflies and other invertebrates. The mixed scrub contains the remnants of a colony of juniper which dominated Lodge…

Dallow Downs and Winsdon Hill

…don Hill SSSI is an area of unimproved and semi-improved calcareous and neutral grasslands, with extensive mixed scrub, secondary woodland and ancient woodland, on a north-facing chalk scarp on the western outskirts of Luton. The site is surrounded on three sides by urban develop…

Candlesby Hill

Area,1.81 ha Description One of the best remnants of the once extensive chalk grasslands of the South east Lincolnshire Wolds. Together with surrounding scrub and broad leaved woodland, the site provides an excellent example of the sequence of change to a mature system. …

Whitesheet Hill

…ac. Description Whitesheet Hill comprises an extensive area of botanically rich chalk grassland on predominantly west facing slopes of the Middle Chalk. Above these slopes are areas of flatter more nutrient rich grassland. Both these semi natural habitats have become increasingly…

Narborough Railway Embankment

…fham. The embankment was constructed in the 19th century from locally extracted chalk rubble and a herb rich chalk flora has developed on the banks. It is probably the most diverse chalk grassland site now left in Norfolk with several chalk loving species occurring in great abund…

Blow's Down

Description Blow’s Down is part of the Lower Chalk escarpment situated to the south east of Dunstable. Here the escarpment changes abruptly from a north west aspect to south west facing and the chalk is capped by clay. These marked geographical …

Deacon Hill

Area, 35.4 hectares 87.47 ac Description Deacon Hill is a remnant of chalk downland with a characteristic species rich, calcareous grassland flora. Many of the plants are now uncommon in the county. Nationally this is a habitat that has been greatly reduced both in ext…

Ladle Hill

… Site of Special Scientific Interest supports some of the floristically richest chalk grassland on the northern escarpment of the Hampshire Chalk plateau. The earthwork, in particular, is very rich in species, with up to 38/m 2 recorded, including an exceptionally good range of d…

Darenth Wood

…the higher areas of ground. An unusual example, this woodland reflects the high chalk content of the soil and is more closely related to continental types than to those found elsewhere in Britain. Associated shrubs include field maple Acer campestre, dogwood Cornus sanguinea, wa…

Clarilaw Grasslands

CLARILAW GRASSLANDS Clarilaw Grasslands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located approximately 8 km south of the town of Melrose in the Scottish Borders. This is a composite site in two parts. One…

Long Dale & Gratton Dale

…pose areas of high geological interest and contain a range of woodlands, scrub, grassland and streams. The dales vary in their orientation. Those that run east west show a strong contrast between the south facing slopes which are warm and dry and the north facing slopes which are…

Noar Hill

Area, 70.15 hectares 173.34 ac Description Situated on the Wealden edge chalk escarpment, Noar Hill exhibits a range of chalk vegetation seral stages from open short sward chalk grassland overlying ancient quarries, through invasive mixed scrub of hawthorn Crataegus monog…

Blandford Camp

… ha. 70.37 ac. Description Blandford Camp lies on the dip slope of the Dorset chalk outcrop two miles north east of Blandford Forum between 75 and 100m above sea level. The site is of special interest for its high quality downland turf which has developed on brown rendzina soil…

South Dorset Coast

…lations of wild cabbage Brassica oleracea. The majority of unimproved limestone grassland in Dorset falls within this site which also includes one of the main areas of unimproved chalk grassland in the county. The character of these calcareous grasslands is strongly influenced by…

Oddy Hill and Tring Park

Description This site consists of two areas of calcareous grassland situated on a chalk scarp to the south of Tring and further areas of calcareous grassland on undulating parkland at the foot of the scarp. These grasslands support a diverse range of grasses…

Pewsey Downs

Description Pewsey Downs covers an extensive chalk downland scarp which supports an extremely rich chalk grassland flora and an outstanding butterfly fauna. On the escarpment top is a small ancient oak ash maple wood with uncommon stand types. T…

Chippenham Fen and Snailwell Poor's Fen

…abitats and associated birds and insects. Areas of tall and often rich fen, fen grassland and basic flush have developed over shallow peat soils. The site also contains calcareous grassland, neutral grassland, woodland, mixed scrub and open water. The flora is very diverse and in…

Millington Wood and Pastures

…terest, cover an exceptionally fine system of deeply incised dry valleys in the chalk karst of the Yorkshire Wolds. Dry valleys are a major feature of the chalk karst and this system is the finest in England being deeply cut, branching, undisturbed and complete in a small area. H…

Eggardon Hill & Luccas Farm

…nd Luccas Farm SSSI Description The site comprises part of the west face of the chalk escarpment and an area of landslips of chalk, greensand and gault clay above fuller’s earth. This varied geology is reflected in a range of habitats including rich chalk, neutral and acid grassl…

Knock Dhu Sallagh Braes

…<i>Bryophyte assemblage, Higher plant assemblage, fungi Assemblage Calcareous grassland, Inland rock, Fens</i> The area is of special scientific interest because of its earth science interest and the range of habitats it supports with associated rare and notable flora. Knock D…

Ebsbury Down

…a. 132.0 ac. Description Ebsbury Down is an extensive area of extremely diverse chalk grassland containing several nationally restricted plant species. Lying alongside the northern edge of Grovely Wood, the site consists of a long mainly north facing scarp of Upper Chalk that has…

Alpine Meadow

…a,0.4 hectares 1.0 ac Description Alpine Meadow is a small area of calcareous grassland on a sheltered, south facing slope of the Upper Chalk north of Berkhamsted. The sward supports a rich assemblage of plant species typical of unimproved chalk grassland. This type of habitat …

Cock Marsh

…ion A site exhibiting a transition in a relatively small area from wet alluvial grassland, through calcareous grassland on a steep north facing slope to more acidic grassland on clay at the top of the slope. The whole area is grazed by cattle and horses and locally by rabbits, pr…

Clearbury Down

…1.3 ha. 77.3 ac. Description Clearbury Down is an outstanding area of herb rich chalk grassland and scrub lying south of Salisbury on the Upper Chalk. The turf is an intimate mixture of grasses and herbs and is an example of Festuca ovina Avenula pratensis sheep's fescue meadow o…

Danebury Hill

…a. Description Danebury Hill comprises relatively gentle slopes surrounding a chalk hill crowned by Danebury Ring, an Iron Age hill fort. The hill fort carries a planted beech Fagus wood, but the surrounding slopes support mixed chalk scrub, juniper Juniperus communis scrub and…

Handcocks Bottom

… park of Harbins Park. The light base rich soils associated with the underlying chalk and drift have given rise to rich and diverse plant communities, typical of the woodlandof the Dorset Chalklands. The virtual absence of atmospheric pollution and the continuity of woodland cove…

Toyd Down and Quarry

…the South Wiltshire type, with notable quantities of dwarf sedge Carex humilis, chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis, field fleawort Senecio integrifolius and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. A good range…

Red Hill

….0 ha Description This site includes one of the only two Lincolnshire permanent chalk grassland areas which survives onan escarpment too steep for cultivation. Adjoining species rich grassland is associated with an old quarry with an exposure of red chalk which gives the site its…

Knighton Downs & Wood

…on Downs and Wood SSSI comprises a large area of botanically diverse calcareous grassland, scrub and semi natural woodland supporting several plant and butterfly species of nationally restricted distribution. The downland forms an extensive, though fragmented, herb rich grassland…

Aston Rowant

… of the largest surviving complexes of beech woodland, mixed scrub, juniper and chalk grassland, habitats once widespread in the Chilterns but now largely fragmented by agricultural improvement, the cessation of traditional grazing systems and afforestation. Much of the site is o…

Figsbury Ring

…ac. Description Figsbury Ring is an iron age hill fort with botanically diverse chalk grassland, representative of that found on the south and south west chalk. It supports nationally restricted plant and animal species as well as large populations of orchids. Such floristically …

Swain's Wood

…ion The site occupies the upper stretches of a classic dry valley and contains chalk grassland and scrub, flanked on two sides by woodland. The grassland is exceptionally rich in both plant and invertebrate species and several national rarities are present. The woodlands are unu…

Starveall and Stony Down

Description Starveall and Stony Down SSSI is a large block of botanically rich chalk grassland. A wide variety of herbs typical of the South and South west Chalk are represented in the vegetation, among them species with nationally restricted distributions. Such floristically di…

Fyfield Down

… lichen community in north west Europe. The sarsens are set within semi natural grassland and scrub of botanical interest. Fyfield Down is a high plateau of chalk downland dissected by a system of dry valleys which contain one of the highest concentrations of sarsen stones in Bri…

Pitstone Hill

Area, 22.91 hectares 56.61 ac Description An area of chalk downland on a steeply sloping, west facing section of the Chiltern escarpment. The grassland on the steeper parts of the slope is very rich botanically and supports several locally and nationall…

Portsmouth Harbour

…Atriples portulacoides. At their highest levels these marshes grade to tussocky grassland dominated by sea couch Elytrigia atherica and on Pewit Island this grassland has in turn been colonised by oak and blackthorn scrub. The nationally scarce golden samphire Inula crithmoides o…

Harting Downs

…ries of parallel valleys across the gender dip slope. They lie predominantly on chalk, with a capping of clay with flints in places. Unimproved chalk grassland occurs on both the scarp and dip slopes. Species rich are asare dominated by fine leaved grasses such as sheep’s fescue …

Sidmouth to Beer Coast

…s stretch of Devon coastline supports the most westerly example of species-rich chalk grassland in England and a diverse invertebrate fauna is associated with the site. There are also important geological and stratigraphic features displayed here. Extending for approximately 12 k…

Deadman's Grave, Icklingham

…dman's Grave is largely covered by short, sheep grazed, species rich calcareous grassland of the very highest value. Other habitats include sparsely vegetated chalk, disturbed sandy soil, acid grassland, Lichen/ Moss heath and small amounts of heather. Four nationally rare plant …

Pitcombe Down

Pitcombe Down SSSI Description An area of chalk downland of south and west aspect. In excellent condition, the swards show some variety in species composition whilst being characteristic of chalk grassland in the south west part of the county…

Locks Farm Meadow

… late flowering orchid is more commonly associated with the calcareous soils of chalk and other limestone grasslands. Other species indicative of agriculturally unimproved, neutral grasslands include dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria, corky fruited water dropwort Oenanthe pimpin…

Hackhurst and White Downs

…nt west of Dorking. Most of the site is on the steeply sloping Upper and Middle chalk but some small areas overlying the Netley Heath Beds of the Clay with Flints plateau are included. The chalk slopes are mostly south facing and they are covered by a mosaic of grassland, scrub a…

Knocking Hoe

Area, 7.7 hectares 19.0 ac Description This section of Lower Chalk escarpment, dissected by a flat bottomed valley, still retains areas of unimproved calcareous grassland supporting a downland flora, which includes several nationally rare plants and other speci…

Holland Hall (Melbourn) Railway Cutting

…tely one kilometre north east of Royston. It is a steep railway cutting through chalk, the slopes of which have been colonised by a wide range of plants characteristic of chalk grassland in eastern England, including some species which are uncommon in Britain. This type of grassl…

Brimsdown Hill

…iption Brimsdown Hill SSSI is an extensive area of botanically rich calcareous grassland, scrub and woodland, with adjacent acidic types. It exhibits a close intermix of declining chalk habitats and contains uncommon plants including one or nationally restricted distribution. Th…

Beacon Hill, Warnford

Area, 44.8 ha110.7 ac Description A chalk spur capped with clay with flints, overlooking the Meon valley west. The steep north and south facing slopes of the spur support a chalk grassland flora, beech Fagus /ash Fraxinus / hazel Corylu…

Yarnbury Castle

… ha. 22.5 ac. Description Yarnbury Castle is an Iron Age Hillfort on the Upper Chalk north of the Wylye Valley. The steep ramparts and earthworks support a rich chalk grassland flora which includes several plants of nationally restricted distribution. The botanical interest is c…

Grays Thurrock Chalk Pit

Area,17.27 hectares 42.67 ac Description Grays Thurrock Chalk Pit is situated in the S W of Essex. Active mineral extraction ceased in the early 1920s and since that time natural colonisation of the pit bottom has created a range of woodland, scrub and cal…

Steeple Langford Down

….74 ac. Description Steeple Langford Down is an area of exceptionally herb rich chalk grassland supporting several plant species that have a restricted distribution in Britain. Such floristically diverse grasslands are a valuable remnant of a habitat which has been much reduced b…

Streatley Warren

Description The site consists of the head of a dry chalk valley situated in the Berkshire / Oxfordshire downs, an area now largely converted to intensive arable farming. More than half the site comprises unimproved flower rich chalk grassland which ha…

Peter's Pit

…the areas of scrub are thought to support a number of breeding birds. An active chalk quarry until about 20 years ago, Peters Pit has an undulating terrain in which many rain fed ponds, of various sizes, have developed. Those which dry up early in the season are of less interest,…

Sydling Valley Downs

…. 179.4 ac. Description About 12km north east of Dorchester, this site occupies chalk slopes on the east side of the valley of the Sydling Water, a small tributary of the River Frome. Its major interest and importance lie in its chalk grassland which, on predominantly west facing…

Swyncombe Downs

…ge hill fort on the escarpment of the Oxfordshire Chilterns, long known for its chalk grassland, scrub and bird communities and subject to ecological studies from as early as 1942. The grasslands include ancient species rich sheep's fescue Festuca ovina turf heavily grazed by rab…

Thixen Dale and Long Dale

…leys south of Thixendale village provides characteristic examples of a range of chalk grassland types found on the Yorkshire Wolds. On the south facing slope of Long Dale, the grassland is a mosaic of close grazed sheep's fescue Festuca ovina and lightly grazed tor grass Brachypo…

Portsdown

Area, 80.67 hectares 199.36 ac Description Portsdown is an isolated east west chalk anticline with a long south facing escarpment which remains un reclaimed. On the lower south facing slopes raised beaches mark former sea levels and it is postulated that former wave erosion has…

Scratchbury & Cotley Hills

Description This is a chalk grassland site south east of Warminster, supporting a rich flora and an outstanding associated butterfly fauna. Unimproved grassland covers a long warm south to west facing slope and the earthwo…

Stratford Toney Down

…tanically rich sheep's fescue, meadow oat grass Festuca ovina Avenula pratensis chalk grassland community. It also supports nationally rare plant and butterfly species. The site lies to the south west of Salisbury and is a shallow dry valley which cuts north through Middle Chalk …

Swallow Wold

….4 ac Description This Valley is a glacial melt water channel cut in the Wold chalk with deposits in the north of bedded sands. It is now the most extensive of the Northern Chalk Grasslands in North Lincolnshire with two orchid species not found elsewhere in the County. The fro…

Catherington Down

Area, 12.12 ha Description Catherington Down is an area of chalk grassland and narrow fringing woodland belts on predominantly west facing downland slopes near the southern extent of the main Upper Chalk outcrop in Hampshire. The site lies mostly between the …

Wangford Warren and Carr

…ion between Breckland and fen soil types and supports areas of relict fen, damp grassland and carr. The most active areas of sand movement are bare sand with a few plants of the rare maritime grass Corynephorus canescens, found here at one of only three inland localities. Two seq…

Hipley Hill

…the east of the village of Ballidon. It is an example of species rich limestone grassland in which are found a number of rare and local plants. It lies on the edge of the Derbyshire Carboniferous Limestone and includes a number of natural caves and rock outcrops. At the top of th…

Combe Wood and Linkenholt Hanging

…tly ancient and partly of secondary original, incorporating some small areas of chalk grassland and scrub which are relicts of open downland. The site lies predominantly on well drained, shallow rendzina soils overlying Upper Chalk; with deep calcareous loams occurring in the val…

Quarley Hill Fort

Area, 4.72 hectares 11.66 ac Description Quarley Hill comprises an elevated chalk hill crowned by a hill fort dating from the Middle Iron Age, on the Upper Chalk, at the extreme eastern edge of Salisbury Plain. The ramparts of the fort and the adjacent north facing slope supp…

Ellesborough and Kimble Warrens

…box Buxus sempervirens, here thought to be native; and both grazed and ungrazed chalk grasslands, of which some are species rich and contain both local and national rarities. Mixed scrub is invading some of these grasslands. One of the valleys harbours an unusual sedge fen commun…

Hackpen, Warren & Gramp's Hill Downs

…n This site is an amalgamation of three discrete, adjacent tracts of unimproved chalk grassland. Together they represent an extensive area of a habitat now uncommon in the Berkshire Downs. The site lies on the Middle Chalk and has all aspects and a wide range of slope gradients r…

Folkestone to Etchinghill Escarpment

Area, 269.5 ha. 666.2 ac. Description This extensive area of chalk grassland and scrub is located on the steep escarpment north of Folkestone. The site is one of the largest remaining areas of unimproved chalk downland in Kent. Three nationally rare plants list…

Highclere Park

Description Highclere Park comprises an extensive open parkland of unimproved grassland with mature trees, pasture woodland and lakes. It is situated in north west Hampshire where the Tertiary Clay of the Thames Valley abuts the Chalk and Greensand of the North Wessex Downs. Th…

Boynton Willow Garth

…c of woodland, occur where the tree canopy is more complete. The Gypsey Race, a chalk stream containing large stands of branched bur reed Sparganium erectum, runs through the northern part of the site. The bird life has been extremely well documented and 63 breeding species have …

Spell Howe Plantation

…Fraxinus excelsior and elm Ulmus glabra woodland. The site, which also includes chalk grassland, is a valuable wildlife refuge in an area of predominantly arable farm land. Baneberry or herb Christopher is a nationally rare species, confined to the north of England and found only…

Croker's Hole

Description Croker's Hole is an area of botanically rich chalk grassland, a habitat which has suffered severe reduction nationally as a result of agricultural intensification, a reduction nowhere more apparent than in west Berkshire. Despite its small size…

Magpie Bottom

…a, 113.9 ha. 281.4 ac. Description The principal interest of this site is the chalk grassland on the steep slopes which supports a herb rich plant community, including the nationally rare Kentish milkwort Polygala amarella. The site also incorporates neutral grassland, scrub an…

Wolstonbury Hill

Area, 58.6 ha. 144.8 ac. Description The chalk downland of Wolstonbury Hill is rich in flowering plants and includes a number of uncommon species. Woodland is established in parts of the site. Chalk grassland has developed on thin rendzina s…

Chickengrove Bottom

… ac. Description Chickengrove Bottom is an intimate mixture of botanically rich chalk grassland, scrub and woodland, with invertebrates and reptiles well represented. It lies on the northern edge of Vernditch Chase close to the Hampshire border. The grassland is a lightly grazed …

Sundon Chalk Quarry

Description Sundon Chalk Quarries are part of a large disused complex of chalk pits just to the west of Upper Sundon in Bedfordshire. Within the quarries is found a range of habitats including small areas of fen, lakes,…

Bracknell Croft

Description Bracknell Croft is a mosaic of botanically rich chalk grassland and developing juniper scrub. More than 300 juniper bushes are scattered over the downland which has a diverse flora characteristic of the south and south west chalk. Such areas are re…

Flordon Common

… Springs emerge on the valley side bearing base rich waters from the underlying chalk and in these areas species rich calcareous fen has developed. On higher ground unimproved pasture is present which includes a number of species characteristic of chalk grassland. Calcareous spri…

Lydden and Temple Ewell Downs

Area, 69.3 Ha 171.2 acres Description This site includes some of the richest chalk grassland in Kent, with outstanding assemblages of plants and invertebrates. Four insects, a snail and one of the plants occurring here are all listed as having become so rare in great Britain t…

Flamborough Head

…he coastal cliffs of Flamborough Head between Reighton and Sewerby, composed of chalk and softer sedimentary rocks. The cliff line exposes a variety of geological features and the chalk, which reaches 130 metres at Bempton, has been eroded to form impressive stacks and caves betw…

Hod and Hambledon Hills

…ly from the Stour Valley in North Dorset and form prominent landmarks. The fine chalk grassland and scrub communities exhibit very interesting local characteristics and the site is of considerable importance in the study of geographical distribution of plants and animals associat…

Bishop Wilton Deep Dale

Area, 43.4 hectares 107.1 ac Description Bishop Wilton Deep Dale is a chalk grassland site in a dry valley complex exhibiting a variety of aspects. Tor Grass Brachyopodium pinnatum is local dominant, interspersed with patches of finer grasses such as sheep’s fescue Fest…

Prescombe Down

…ally rich downland site with a flora characteristic of the south and south west chalk grassland. Much of the vegetation is dominated by a nationally restricted sedge species and the fine sward comprises a wide diversity of herbs and grasses. In addition the downland supports a ri…

Martin and Tidpit Downs

Description Martin and Tidpit Downs form an extensive tract of chalk downland, chalk heath and scrub at the extreme east of the Dorset Downs on the Hampshire Wiltshire border. They include a gently undulating plain rising to a high east west ridge, the crest of w…

Sked Dale

… grasses following cessation of grazing by stock many years ago, a species rich chalk grassland turf persists where the soils are thin and rabbit grazing is heavy. Such areas occur at the western end of the south facing slope, in and to the south west of Sked Dale Chalk Pit and i…

Morgan's Hill

…ha. 31.1 ac. Description Morgan's Hill is a botanically rich area of southern chalk grassland occurring in North Wiltshire. It supports a diverse flora including several uncommon species and an associated rich butterfly fauna. The site occupies part of a predominantly north wes…

Turville Hill

…e and Hambleden valleys and containing the largest and finest example of grazed chalk grassland remaining in the southern part of the Buckinghamshire Chilterns. There is an exceptional variety of attractive plants and the invertebrate fauna includes two rare and declining butterf…

Vessey Pasture Dale and Back Dale

…8 hectares 66.2 ac Description The series of dales west of Raisthorpe supports chalk grassland representative of several of the types found on the Yorkshire Wolds. The dale sides are, in the main, close grazed and free from scrub. In Back Dale there are numerous ant hills amongs…

St. Catherine's Hill

…hectares 102.5 ac Description The Site of Special Scientific Interest comprises chalk grassland scrub occupying the spur of St. Catherine's Hill and an adjoining dry valley. The varied topography, soil depth and aspect gives rise to distinct differences in the plant communities. …

Stonepit and Nova Slacks

Area, 12.20 ha. Description Stonepit and Nova Slacks comprise a small area of chalk grassland within the Yorkshire Wolds. The site is situated at the southern head of a branched dale and includes a variety of different aspects. These contribute significantly to the botanical di…

Gooderstone Warren

…andy soils range from mildly acid to fairly calcareous, so much of the range of grassland types characteristic of this region is present here. These habitats are easily destroyed by conversion to arable use and are declining throughout the Breck. In the southern strip of heathlan…

Tetford Wood

…ew remaining ancient woodlands in Lincolnshire situated directly upon the Wolds chalk. It contains examples of stand types which are nationally uncommon. These include southern calcareous hazel ash woodland and calcareous ash wych elm woodland. The associated ground flora include…

Pincombe Down

Area, 23.8 ha. 58.8 ac. Description Pincombe Down occupies an area of chalk grassland situated on the sides of a valley extending out from a north east facing coombe. The turf is floristically diverse, supporting a number of uncommon plants including one of nationally r…

Halnaker Chalk Pit

Description The site consists of a partly vegetated pit in the Upper Chalk with peripheral areas of scrub and woodland. Halnaker Chalk Pit is important as the joint location of the largest population of a nationally rare* plant species in great Britain. The floor of th…

Cheesefoot Head

Description Cheesefoot Head is a large area of steeply sloping chalk downland around a predominantly north facing horseshoe shaped dry valley. Almost the whole of the site comprises species rich turf, grazed at present! 1985 by cattle and rabbits, though there is…

Cottam Well Dale

Area, 23.3 hectares 57.5 ac Description Cottam Well Dale is a chalk grassland site lying on the eastern side of a dry valley with mainly westerly and north westerly aspects. The site contains both grazed and ungrazed sections, with varying amounts of scrub invas…

Horse Dale and Holm Dale

…iption The site defined as Horse Dale and Holme Dale consists of two unimproved chalk grassland banks within adjacent dry valleys, which converge at their eastern ends. The two slopes exhibit different aspects and plant communities. The north west facing bank of Horse Dale is hea…

Nine Spring Dale

…rea, 4.54 hectares 11.20 ac Description Nine Spring Dale supports species rich chalk grassland showing affinities with the southern type but with many northern species; it was formerly more extensive but is now confined to the eastern side of the dale. The sward is characterised…

Boulsbury Wood

…s across the transition between the acidic deposits of the Reading Beds and the Chalk, which give rise to a complex series of soils ranging from thin chalk, through a deep, rich, calcareous loam, to podsolised soils and dense cappings of flints. The wood is known to support ten …

Dancersend

…ns some two kilometres from the Hertfordshire border. It encompasses unimproved chalk grassland, scrub, coppiced and regenerating woodland and plantations. Much of the area has long been known for its substantial ecological interest through the work of two generations of the Roth…

East Heslerton Brow

…s and small valleys which are the result of land slipping. The slopes support a chalk grassland community dominated by red rescue Festuca rubra with abundant hairy oat grass Avenula pubescens and meadow oat grass Alopecurus pratensis. Other components of the sward include yellow …

Gomm Valley

Area, 4.12 hectares 10.18 ac Description A tract of herb rich chalk grassland at an advanced stage of reversion to scrub, lying on the west facing slope of a dry valley and flanked along its upper margin by a strip of semi natural deciduous woodland. There is a …

Bix Bottom

… dry valley and its tributaries. Together they cut through the Upper and Middle Chalk producing every aspect and with gradients of up to 20 E. Weathered chalk constitutes the parent material of many of the shallow, lime rich soils of the Icknield series on the steeper valley side…

Calstone and Cherhill Downs

Description Calstone and Cherhill Downs is an extensive area of herb rich chalk grassland of exceptional botanical quality. The flora supports a diverse population of invertebrates including an outstanding assemblage of butterflies and a nationally rare cricket. The site co…

Parsonage Down

Description Parsonage Down is one of the most outstanding chalk downland sites in Britain. Situated on the Upper Chalk of the southern edge of Salisbury Plain, the site is of particular interest as an extensive area of flat and gently sloping land, much of w…

Galley Down Wood

…ion beech wood Fagus sylvatica occupying a scarp slope and plateau on the Upper Chalk. The beech was planted some sixty years ago and under planted with larch Larix decidua which has now largely been removed. Despite its ‘unnatural’ origins, the site’s flora is rich, with excepti…

Aston Rowant Woods

…rns scarp. The site consists of a series of contiguous areas of woodland on the chalk escarpment, plateau and dip slope of the Chilterns. Much of this site is ancient woodland and although parts have been modified by the planting of introduced trees and by sycamore invasion, an u…

Weeting Heath

…rabbit grazed, Breckland grass heath. Most of the site is covered by calcareous grassland and lichen dominated heath and a number of rare plants characteristic of Breckland are present. A small arable weed reserve is included within the site and many of the rare Breckland annuals…

Sudborough Green Lodge Meadows

… of a semi improved but herb rich character and is managed similarly. The major grassland type has a widespread distribution in Britain though centred on the more calcareous of the Midland clay lands. Agricultural change has drastically reduced its former extent and this site is …

Stow-cum-Quy Fen

…istically rich calcareous loam pasture. In addition a number of pools formed on Chalk Marl are present and these support a range of aquatic plants including some uncommon species. Both the grassland and open water habitats described above are rare in the British Isles. The fragme…

Cherry Hill and The Gallops, Barton Mills

…ge of Breckland. The soil is a typical flinty, Breckland sand with fragments of chalk and unimproved calcareous grassland has developed on the wide roadside verges within the site. The species rich grassland flora includes an outstanding assemblage of nationally rare plants. The …

Avon Valley (Bickton to Christchurch)

…s a greater range of habitats and a more diverse flora and fauna than any other chalk river valley in Britain. The flood plain and associated river terraces within the SSSI contain a variety of habitats ranging from herb richhay meadows and pastures, through a range of fens and m…

River Feshie

…lakes or lochs with aquatic vegetation and poor to moderate nutrient levels Dry grasslands and scrublands on chalk or limestone Dry heaths Hard-water springs depositing lime High-altitude plant communities associated with areas of water seepage Juniper on heaths or calcareous gra…

Lympne Escarpment

…ensand. Ragstone is a hard sandy limestone which produces calcareous soils. The grassland and woodland of this site are among the best remaining examples of semi natural habitats on ragstone in Kent. Wet ash maple is the predominant woodland type with a small area of calcareous a…

Thetford Golf Course & Marsh

… land plant communities and a fine example of valley alder woodland. Calcareous grassland occurs where there are chalk fragments in the overlying drift. Areas of “semi rough” are lightly mown and the grass sward contains an abundance of sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, sweet vernal …

Grangelands & Pulpit Hill

Area, 25.51 hectares 63.04 ac Description An extensive area of grassland, scrub and beech woodland on a variety of chalk substrates ranging from undisturbed rendzinas over Upper and Middle Chalk on the extremely steep slopes of the Chiltern escarpment, to soils o…

Black Hill Down

Black Hill Down SSSI Description This grassland site occupies steep, mostly Middle Chalk slopes on the east side of the River Cerne valley to the south of Cerne Abbas. These slopes support a herb-rich sward which also includes areas of sc…

Cranwich Camp

Description Cranwich Camp is a grassland site situated on sand and chalk towards the western edge of Breckland. It is a former army camp and has experienced some disturbance; nevertheless it remains a good example of Breckland gras…

White Horse Hill

…l forms part of the steep south-facing scarp at the southern edge of the Dorset chalk, overlooking the valley of the River Jordan, north of Weymouth. The site overlies bands of Upper, Middle and Lower Chalk on which herb-rich grassland communities have developed. These communitie…

Belmore Mountain

Belmore Mountain Higher plant assemblage, Lichen assemblage Calcareous grassland, purple moor grass and rush pastures, Mixed ashwoods, Wet heath, Dry heath, Blanket bog, Upland Flushes, Fens and Swamps The area is of special scientific interest because of the diversity …

Fritton Common

…razing. The site forms an excellent example of the locally uncommon damp acidic grassland habitat developed over loess soils. Several natural ponds are present and these support well developed marginal and aquatic vegetation. The management of the surrounding grassland has ensure…

Coombe Hill

… is of special interest for its large area of flower rich, unimproved limestone grassland. It is one of only a few recent sites for the nationally rare limestone woundwort Stachys alpina.* The site occupies moderately steep, mainly south facing slopes close to Wotton under Edge. …

Yockletts Bank

… Description This woodland site is situated on the west facing slope of a dry chalk valley. Hornbeam woodland, on the clay with flints soils on the gentle upper slopes, grades into beech with ash and field maple on the thin chalk soils of the steep lower slopes. The wood is not…

Pen y Gogarth / Great Ormes Head

…ciated sedimentary deposits supports sizable areas of calcicolous (lime-loving) grassland, limestone and acidic heath, maritime cliff vegetation and a mixture of other plant communities and habitats. The endemic wild cotoneaster Cotoneaster cambricus, spiked speedwell Veronica sp…

Weston Fen

…ry valuable example of a species rich, spring fed valley fen, with areas of fen grassland and relict heath. These are fringed by a wide variety of grassland scrub and woodland communities. Of all the fens in the Waveney/ Ouse valley it has been least affected by drainage or water…

Bratoft Meadows

Area,2.2 ha Description The best example of species rich neutral grassland in North Lincolnshire. One of the remaining areas of permanent grassland not dominated by plants associated with chalk and limestone. Two adjacent fields which border the Cowcroft drain are …

White Park Bay

…s flora and fauna. The bay comprises a massive land-slipped area backed by high chalk cliffs. Several exposures are well represented, with sea-stacks and natural arches present. In addition, White Park Bay is notable for its diverse plant and animal communities, its largely unmod…

Rex Graham Reserve

Area, 2.7 ha. 6.6 ac. Description This long disused chalk pit supports the largest wild population of a nationally rare plant given special protection under Section 13 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. There is also a substantial population of …

Wyedale

Area, 12.5 hectares 30.9 ac Description Wyedale comprises a small chalk dale incised in the western edge of the Yorkshire Wolds. Both the north and south facing slopes remain uncultivated and support a rich flora, being invaded by hawthorn scrub due to lack of grazi…

L-moor, Shepreth

…6.1 hectares 15.07 ac Description L Moor holds floristically diverse and rich grassland communities which have largely developed on calcareous alluvium. The grassland types represented on the site are scarce in Cambridgeshire and are rare in the country as a whole. The dryer gr…

RAF Lakenheath

…iption RAF Lakenheath consists of several large areas of species rich Breckland grassland, on well drained sandy soils overlying chalk. The high number of rare and scarce plant species is higher than any other site in Suffolk. The site is on the western edge of Breckland and is a…

Down Farm

…is of special interest for its nationally important species rich lowland meadow grassland and a rich assemblage of grassland fungi. Down Farm is situated on the chalk ridge that extends from the village of Maiden Newton north-west towards Chedington on the Dorset Somerset border.…

Old Winchester Hill

…s 159.58 ac Description Old Winchester Hill is situated on the East Hampshire chalk, overlooking the Meon Valley at the western extremity of the South Downs. The reserve represents an important element in the series of chalk downland National Nature Reserves in the middle of th…

Rampisham Down

… Down is of special interest by reason of its nationally important lowland acid grassland and lowland heathland habitats, dominated by examples of the National Vegetation Classification NVC type U4 sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina – heath bedstraw Galium saxatile grassland, occurring…

Moor Hall Meadows

…prises a group of grazing meadows on undrained boulder clay soils overlying the chalk of north east Hertfordshire. A variety of grassland types are present with unimproved neutral to calcareous and marshy grassland being most extensive. The strong basic influence is provided by s…

Prospect Quarry

…mportance because its floor supports one of the very few fragments of limestone grassland on the Isle of Wight. It also includes a small, high calcareous pond with an interesting aquatic flora and fauna. The grassland flora displays many features usually associated with chalk dow…

Brockadale

…rags which are, for the most part, wooded but there are also areas of limestone grassland. The valley woodland is largely dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus with some birch Betula pendula (formerly verrucosa), while the plateau to the north also …

Sutton Combe

Description This south west facing combe on the edge of the chalk escarpment in north east Dorset, supports unimproved chalk downland with a rich flora and fauna. The grassland is mainly dominated by sheep's fescue Festuca ovina with a number of other grasses …

Badley Moor

…c Description This site consists of a large area of spring fed valley fen and grassland situated in the valley of the River Tud. Chalk springs emerge from the valley side and are marked by clearly developed tufa formations where deposition of calcium carbonate has created a ser…

St Lawrence Bank

…0.5 hectares 1.235 ac Description The site consists of a small, field edge, a chalk bank vegetated with a mix of tall, ungrazed grassland and dense mature scrub. The site is of great national importance in supporting a large population of the very rare field cow wheat Melampyru…

Middle Harling Fen

… in a shallow valley and a number of springs, bearing water from the underlying chalk, emerge on the sloping ground. A wide range of grassland types is present including both wet and dry communities. The species rich fen vegetation includes several plants that are now uncommon in…

The Brinks, Northwold

…eloped on a range of soils which are mostly well drained being derived from the chalk sand drift, though those underlying the western meadow have a higher clay content and are generally less well drained. Soil reactions range from calcareous and neutral to slightly acidic and thi…

Thriplow Meadows

…of which are now scarce and occur mainly as scattered and fragmented sites. The grassland communities are characterised by the presence of such species as red fescue Festuca rubra, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and knapweed Centaurea nigra. The wetter areas are dominated by a mixt…

Bridgham & Brettenham Heaths

…at. The soils are predominantly acidic sands, heavily podsolised in places, but chalk comes near to the surface towards the eastern boundary. The vegetation is mainly heather and acidic grassland with considerable areas of bracken and some scrub. However it also includes small ar…

Ballidon Dale

…f the most important areas of carboniferous limestone in Britain, with daleside grasslands which show similarities to those found in both parts of the country. The White Peak is cut by valleys or 'dales'. These expose areas of high geological interest and support a range if impor…

Roman Road

Description The Roman Road supports species rich calcareous grassland communities of a type which was once widespread on the chalk areas of lowland England and which is now scarce due to changes away from the traditional sheep grazing economy of these areas to…

Tilwick Meadow

…ares 6.32 ac Description Tilwick Meadow is a small area of unimproved neutral grassland situated about seven kilometres north of Bedford on the undulating chalk boulder clay, which in this part of northern Bedfordshire overlies the Oxford Clay. The meadow, which is on the site …

Dancersend Waterworks

… rich assemblage of herbs, grasses and shrubs. Locally the periodic flushing of chalk silt from the waterworks into specially constructed basins has created a remarkable habitat for certain chalk loving species. The herb rich sward contains many species characteristic of calcareo…

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