Wolstonbury Hill
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TQ277134 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 6.57 | 2014-06-03 |
| TQ282139 | — | Favourable | 37.64 | 2014-08-13 |
| TQ288140 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 9.48 | 2022-03-29 |
| TQ289138 | — | Favourable | 37.64 | 2014-08-13 |
| TQ293130 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 5.2 | 2014-08-13 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
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 soils on steep slopes. The grasses sheep's fescue Festuca ovina and upright brome Bromus erectus form a turf in which typical downland plants such as eyebright Euphrasia nemorosa, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica and marjoram Origanum vulgare are prominent. Rarer plants include roundheaded rampion Phyteuma orbiculare and a range of orchids, bee orchid Ophrys apifera, fly orchid Ophrys insectifera, pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, early purple orchid Orchis mascula and the only known Sussex locality for one other species. Dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria is frequent in the grassland of the south eastern outlier. On the deeper soils at the foot of the escarpment woodland has become established. This comprises mature beech Fagus sylvatica with pedunculate oak Quercus robur and ash Fraxinus excelsior above an often dense ground flora of dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum and bramble. There are also areas of younger, scrubbier woodland of ash and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus with typical chalk loving shrubs such as wild privet Ligustrum vulgare, dogwood Cornus sanguinea and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna.