Hobby to Peppercombe
Also within
Devon County North Devon Scenic Area King Charles Way - Combe Martin to Marsland Mouth National TrailSouth West Coast Path National Trail
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (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 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.
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous
Landscape processes: Coastal, Fluvial
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| 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
Show the 41 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| 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
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix 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
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera 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
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera 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
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera 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