Hobby to Peppercombe

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.9907, -4.3532

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (2) Favourable (3)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SS327240 Unfavourable Recovering 59.49 2014-03-17
SS337237 Favourable 37.8 2009-10-30
SS348237 Unfavourable Recovering 23.62 2009-10-30
SS351236 Favourable 11.78 2009-10-30
SS368239 Favourable 91.31 2009-10-30

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous

Landscape processes: Coastal, Fluvial

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
buzzard Breeding
fulmar Breeding
great black-backed gull Breeding
hobby Unknown
oystercatcher Breeding
sparrowhawk Breeding

Description

Hobby to Peppercombe SSSI Description This six kilometres section of the North Devon coast supports extensive sessile oak Quercus petraea woodlands which contain nationally important communities of Atlantic-climate old-woodland lichens, many of which are rare or have a restricted distribution. The north-facing, convex sea cliffs, composed of much-folded Carboniferous sandstones and shales of the Bude and Crackington Formations, rise very steeply from the intertidal rocky platform to about 150 metres. They are subject to the strong, moist winds from the Atlantic, and in places fast-flowing streams have deeply incised the cliffs to form steep valley and coastal waterfalls. Sessile oak is the dominated woodland tree over much of the site, and in places, particularly on the steeper slopes close to the sea, it forms pure stands. More varied woodland occupies the relatively sheltered valleys and slopes away from the sea. Here ash Fraxinus excelsior, downy birch Betula pubescens, holly Ilex aquifolium, sallow Salix cinerea and rowan Sorbus aucuparia locally mix with the oak. There are some planted beech Fagus sylvatica, and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus and rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum occur as invasive aliens, particularly where the native tree canopy has been broken by tree-fall. The proportion of hazel Corylus avellana and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna vary throughout the woods, while blackthorn Prunus spinosa and gorse Ulex europaeus form locally dense thickets in the open. Some areas of the ground flora are dominated by a sward of either great wood-rush Luzula sylvatica, bramble Rubus fruticosus or bracken Pteridium aquilinum; others support a flora which includes bugle Ajuga reptans, sanicle Sanicula europaea, woodruff Galium odoratum and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta. The rich fern flora includes scaly male-fern Dryopteris affinis, common male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas, broad buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata and the western hay-scented buckler-fern Dryopteris aemula. Along the seaward lip of the cliffs the canopy becomes very open, with scattered, wind-stunted sessile oak. Here, maritime heath containing heather Calluna vulgaris, bell heather Erica cinerea and gorse Ulex spp. grades in with the scrub. The site’s long-established woodland and suitable prevailing climate have enabled an extremely rich and healthy lichen flora to develop. The Lobarion assemblage is particularly well established and includes the very rare Lobaria amplissima as well as L. pulmonaria, L. laetevirens and Lobaria scrobiculata. Other rare species include Pectenia atlantica and P. plumbea, Bombyliospora pachycarpa, Pannaria rubiginosa and Sticta dufourii. There is a luxuriant development of many species, including Usnea articulata and several western species such as the rare Enterographa hutchinsiae. A wide variety of breeding birds occur here. Coastal species include fulmar Fulmarus glacialis, oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus and great black-backed gull Larus marinus. Woodland birds are well represented with raven Corvus corax, sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, buzzard Buteo buteo, barn owl Tyto alba and great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites
Latin name
search with Google
IUCN / Red List Type Family
raven Corvus corax LC (Breeding) bird-corvid corvidae
fulmar Fulmarus glacialis CR (Breeding) bird-fulmar procellariidae
great black-backed gull Larus marinus EN (NonBreeding), CR (Breeding) bird-gull laridae
sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus NT (Breeding) bird-hawk falconidae
buzzard Buteo buteo LC (Breeding) bird-hawk falconidae
barn owl Tyto alba LC (Breeding) bird-owl tytonidae
oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus LC (Breeding) bird-wader haematopodidae
great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major LC (Breeding) bird-woodpecker picidae
hay-scented fern Dryopteris aemula LC fern dryopteridaceae
scaly male-fern Dryopteris affinis LC fern dryopteridaceae
broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata LC fern dryopteridaceae
male fern Dryopteris filix-mas LC fern dryopteridaceae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
bugle Ajuga reptans LC herb lamiaceae
woodruff Galium odoratum LC herb rubiaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
sanicle Sanicula europaea LC herb apiaceae
no common name Bombyliospora pachycarpa Not listed in GB list lichen no common name
no common name Enterographa hutchinsiae LC lichen no common name
parchment lichen Lobaria amplissima Not listed in GB list lichen no common name
textured lungwort Lobaria scrobiculata Not listed in GB list lichen no common name
red-eyed shingle lichen Pannaria rubiginosa LC lichen no common name
lichen-no common name Sticta dufourii Not listed in GB list lichen tba
lichen Usnea articulata NT lichen parmeliaceae
great wood rush Luzula sylvatica LC rush juncaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
rhodedendron Rhododendron ponticum Not listed in GB list shrub ericaceae
gorse Ulex europaeus LC shrub leguminosae
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
bell heather Erica cinerea NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
downy birch Betula pubescens LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
sessile or durmast oak Quercus petraea LC tree fagaceae
rowan Sorbus aucuparia LC tree rosaceae
grey willow Salix cinerea LC tree shrub salicaceae

Plant communities

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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas