Beeding Hill to Newtimber Hill

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.8897, -0.2138

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (5) Unfavourable Declining (1) Unfavourable Recovering (8)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TQ203091 Favourable 25.52 2014-08-15
TQ207098 Unfavourable Declining 10.36 2021-10-21
TQ212101 Unfavourable Recovering 8.47 2011-08-03
TQ224110 Favourable 21.55 2011-08-11
TQ234111 Unfavourable Recovering 35.02 2011-08-11
TQ247110 Unfavourable Recovering 31.93 2011-06-09
TQ255110 Unfavourable Recovering 14.06 2014-08-15
TQ264112 Unfavourable Recovering 62.5 2011-06-09
TQ264116 Favourable 2.3 2011-06-15
TQ267120 Unfavourable Recovering 1.18 2021-12-07
TQ268111 Unfavourable Recovering 22.41 2011-06-15
TQ268115 Unfavourable Recovering 22.41 2011-06-15
TQ271122 Favourable 66.83 2011-08-11
TQ273127 Favourable 18.82 2012-03-29

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Karst · Geological Period: Quaternary · Rock Type: Chalk

Landscape processes: Karst, Periglacial, Volcanic / Igneous

Description

Area, 272.9 ha. 674.2 ac. Description, The site has several earthworks of archaeolgical interest. Beeding Hill to Newtimber Hill situated on the scarp slope of the South Downs is a site of both geological and biological 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. A nationally uncommon plant also occurs. Devil’s Dyke is the best known example of a dry chalk valley. Biology The site lies on chalk which is capped in parts by clay with flints. Most of the area consists of unimproved chalk grassland, with occasional areas of scrub. In places this scrub has developed into woodland and there are also some areas of mature beech woodland. The plateau of Newtimber Hill has an area of neutral grassland on clay with flints and has a dew pond. A chalk spring arises in a steep valley. Most of the chalk grassland is very rich in plant species with as many as 40 flowering plants per square metre. There are local variations in the composition of the sward according to the locality and the grazing regime. The richest areas are dominated by upright brome Bromus erectus and fine leaved grasses such as sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina and crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha. Frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis, round headed rampion Phyteuma orbiculare and pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis are among the species occur here. It is a locality of a nationally uncommon plant, the red star thistle Centaurea calcitrapa. Other areas are dominated by taller grasses such as tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum, cock’s foot Dactylis glomerata and oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius. Two disused chalk quarries also support a rich chalk flora. The neutral grassland consists mainly of Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, red fescue and gorse Ulex europaeus, with wood sage Teucrium scorodonia, betony Betonica officinalis and bramble Rubus fruticosus. Scrub is scattered throughout the grassland and forms dense belts in some areas. It is composed of gorse, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, ash Fraxinus excelsior, oak Quercus robur and wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana. The scrub has invaded the areas of chalk heath which formerly occurred on the plateau. The site supports a small colony of juniper Juniperus communis in its most easterly locality on the South Downs. The woodland consists of beech Fagus sylvatica, oak and ash, with field maple Acer campestre and wild cherry Prunus avium. hazel Corylus avellana, hawthorn and elder Sambucus nigra form a scattered scrub layer over bramble, dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis and slender false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum. Yellow bird’s nest Hypopitys monotropa and bird’s nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis are also found. In the vicinity of the chalk spring there is an area of willow carr which consists of common sallow Salix cinerea and white willow Salix alba scrub over nettle Urtica dioica, fool’s water cress Apium nodiflorum and goose grass Galium aparine. This type of habitat is uncommon on chalk in the county and this is the locality of an uncommon cranefly Gonomyia simplex. A pond has recently been constructed here. A dew pond on the plateau supports colonies of all three species of newt. The site supports a nationally important assemblage of the Opilionid group of Arachnids harvestmen. It is a locality of the nationally uncommon scarce forester moth Jordanita globulariae and the Adonis blue butterfly Polyommatus bellargus. Geology Devil’s Dyke is the most famous and remarkable of all the chalk dry valleys and is frequently cited as the type example. It is the largest single coombe anywhere in the chalk karst of Britain and is of considerable geomorphological interest in providing a most spectacular example of Pleistocene erosion of chalk. Its exact origin is a source of debate, but it seems to have evolved under both periglacial and interglacial conditions. A series of deposits on the valley floor has considerable research potential and may throw further light on the formation of the feature. Devil’s Dyke is a key site for periglacial and chalk geomorphology.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
Adonis blue Polyommatus bellargus VU butterfly lycaenidae
cranefly Gonomyia simplex Not listed in GB list cranefly limoniidae
false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius LC grass poaceae
tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum LC grass poaceae
wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum LC grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
cock's foot Dactylis glomerata LC grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus LC grass poaceae
crested hair-grass Koeleria macrantha NT grass poaceae
pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis LC herb orchidaceae
fools water-cress Apium nodiflorum Not listed in GB list herb apiaceae
betony Betonica officinalis VU herb lamiaceae
red star thistle Centaurea calcitrapa VU herb asteraceae
frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis VU herb orchidaceae
goosegrass Galium aparine LC herb rubiaceae
yellow birds nest Hypopitys monotropa DD herb monotropaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
birdsnest orchid Neottia nidus-avis VU herb orchidaceae
round headed rampion Phyteuma orbiculare LC herb campanulaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
wood sage Teucrium scorodonia LC herb lamiaceae
nettle Urtica dioica LC herb urticaceae
scarce forester Jordanita globulariae R moth zygaenidae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
juniper Juniperus communis CR shrub cupressaceae
elder Sambucus nigra LC shrub caprifoliaceae
gorse Ulex europaeus LC shrub leguminosae
wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana LC shrub caprifoliaceae
field maple Acer campestre LC tree aceraceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
wild cherry Prunus avium LC tree rosaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
white willow Salix alba LC tree salicaceae
grey willow Salix cinerea LC tree shrub salicaceae

Plant communities

W12 — Beech wood

Fagus sylvatica-Mercurialis perennis woodland

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Carpinus betulus, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Aesculus hippocastanum, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus avium, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Buxus sempervirens, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Viburnum opulus, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Crataegus monogyna, Daphne laureola, Carex flacca, Carex sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Fissidens taxifolius, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thamnobryum alopecurum, Tamus communis, Anthriscus sylvestris, Heracleum sphondylium, Sanicula europaea, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Mycelis muralis, Solidago virgaurea, Cynoglossum officinale, Alliaria petiolata, Campanula trachelium, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Hypericum hirsutum, Iris foetidissima, Ajuga reptans, Glechoma hederacea, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Epilobium montanum, Cephalanthera damasonium, Neottia nidus-avis, Neottia ovata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus bulbosus, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium odoratum, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas

W14 — Beech wood, Wood pasture

Fagus sylvatica-Rubus fruticosus woodland

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Prunus avium, Sorbus aria, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Sambucus nigra, Ruscus aculeatus, Ligustrum vulgare, Carex remota, Carex sylvatica, Luzula pilosa, Mnium hornum, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens taxifolius, Brachythecium rutabulum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Arum maculatum, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Stellaria media agg., Euphorbia amygdaloides, Mercurialis perennis, Hypericum pulchrum, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Epipactis helleborine, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Geum urbanum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium odoratum, Galium verum, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus giganteus, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas

W15 — Beech wood, Wood pasture

Fagus sylvatica-Deschampsia flexuosa woodland

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata, Calluna vulgaris, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ruscus aculeatus, Carex pilulifera, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum formosum, Tetraphis pellucida, Calypogeia fissa, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnocolea inflata, Lepidozia reptans, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia squamules, Lonicera periclymenum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Rubus fruticosus agg., Melanpyrum pratense, Agrostis capillaris, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas