Lewes Downs
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TQ428107 | — | Favourable | 36.13 | 2015-07-27 |
| TQ428112 | — | Favourable | 17.43 | 2009-11-19 |
| TQ438096 | — | Favourable | 38.84 | 2019-09-24 |
| TQ440092 | — | Favourable | 11.3 | 2020-11-02 |
| TQ441093 | — | Favourable | 7.54 | 2020-11-02 |
| TQ443088 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 1.32 | 2023-02-07 |
| TQ444089 | — | Favourable | 3.09 | 2009-05-29 |
| TQ444100 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 4.43 | 2015-10-30 |
| TQ445086 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 15.86 | 2023-02-07 |
| TQ445089 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 2.91 | 2023-02-09 |
| TQ446090 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 6.75 | 2023-02-09 |
| TQ448087 | — | Favourable | 5.62 | 2015-10-02 |
| TQ448098 | — | Favourable | 13.82 | 2020-11-02 |
| TQ448102 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 4.43 | 2015-10-30 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| grasshopper warbler | Breeding |
| kestrel | Breeding |
| kestrel | Wintering |
| meadow pipit | Breeding |
| meadow pipit | Wintering |
Description
Area, 149.8 ha. 370.2 ac. Description Lewes Downs is an isolated block of downland 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 rare moth, and an important breeding community of downland birds. This block of downland has a south facing scarp slope which is an unusual feature within the South Downs. The majority of the site comprises unimproved species rich chalk grassland, developed on steep slopes over thin rendzina soils. Other habitats which add to the diversity and interest of the site include areas of mixed scrub and semi natural woodland. The richest parts of Lewes Downs are the Old Chalk Pit, Bible Bottom, Malling Combe and parts of Mount Caburn. Here the sward is dominated by sheep's fescue Festuca ovina and upright brome Bromus erectus grasses which form a springy turf with an abundance of characteristic herbs of chalk grassland. Salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata and sqinancywort Asperula cynanchica are widespread and in Caburn Bottom an exceptional quantity of marjoram Origanum vulgare occurs and is important as a food plant for the chalkhill blue butterfly. A number of plants occupying a strictly southern distribution within the British Isles are found on the warm south facing slopes of Malling Combe and Mount Caburn including chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea and round headed rampion Phyteuma orbiculare. One of the largest British colonies of the burnt tip orchid Neotinea ustulata occurs on the upper slope of Mount Caburn, intermittently appearing with the nationally rare early spider orchid Ophrys sphegodes. The orchid flora here, in Caburn Bottom and on the steeper slopes of the chalk pits in the far north of the site is exceptional for its variety and for the number of individual plants. Bee Ophrys apifera, fly Ophrys insectifera, frog Dactylorhiza viridis and musk orchids Herminium monorchis are all present. Scrub which has invaded in several areas, is composed mainly of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana, blackthorn Prunus spinosa, dogwood Cornus sanguinea and wild privet Ligustrum vulgare. Areas of ash Fraxinus excelsior woodland occur on the eastern edge of the site and south of Malling Combe, where sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus becomes locally dominant. Beneath this canopy hawthorn and elder Sambucus nigra form a shrub layer with a ground flora of dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis and ground ivy Glechoma hederacea. Mezereon Daphne mezereum, an unusual shrub with a restricted distribution also occurs in these woods. The rich habitat mosaic at this site fosters an exceptional Lepidopteran fauna butterflies and moths, including the Adonis blue Polyommatus bellargus and the chalkhill blue L. coridon butterflies. All three British forester moths Adscita species have been recorded here along with the locally rare annulet moth Gnophos annubilata. A number of typical downland birds breed on the site including kestrel, corn bunting, grasshopper warbler and meadow pipit. This is also an important over wintering area for thrushes and finches.
Species mentioned
Show the 32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gnophos annubilata | Not listed in GB list | Charissa obscurata | geometridae | |
| corn bunting | Emberiza calandra | CR (Breeding) | bird-bunting | emberizidae |
| kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | VU (Breeding) | bird-hawk | falconidae |
| meadow pipit | Anthus pratensis | LC (Breeding) | bird-pipit | motacillidae |
| grasshopper warbler | Locustella naevia | LC (Breeding) | bird-warbler | locustellidae |
| Adonis blue | Polyommatus bellargus | VU | butterfly | lycaenidae |
| upright brome | Bromus erectus | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| sheep's fescue | Festuca ovina | LC | grass | poaceae |
| squinancywort | Asperula cynanchica | VU | herb | rubiaceae |
| yellowwort | Blackstonia perfoliata | LC | herb | gentianaceae |
| frog orchid | Dactylorhiza viridis | VU | herb | orchidaceae |
| ground ivy | Glechoma hederacea | LC | herb | lamiaceae |
| musk orchid | Herminium monorchis | EN | herb | orchidaceae |
| horseshoe vetch | Hippocrepis comosa | VU | herb | fabaceae |
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| burnt orchid | Neotinea ustulata | EN | herb | orchidaceae |
| bee orchid | Ophrys apifera | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| fly orchid | Ophrys insectifera | VU | herb | orchidaceae |
| early spider orchid | Ophrys sphegodes | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| wild marjoram | Origanum vulgare | LC | herb | lamiaceae |
| round headed rampion | Phyteuma orbiculare | LC | herb | campanulaceae |
| chalk milkwort | Polygala calcarea | VU | herb | polygalaceae |
| salad burnet | Poterium sanguisorba | VU | herb | rosaceae |
| dogwood | Cornus sanguinea | LC | shrub | cornaceae |
| hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| metzereon | Daphne mezereum | VU | shrub | thymelaeaceae |
| wild privet | Ligustrum vulgare | LC | shrub | oleaceae |
| blackthorn | Prunus spinosa | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| elder | Sambucus nigra | LC | shrub | caprifoliaceae |
| wayfaring tree | Viburnum lantana | LC | shrub | caprifoliaceae |
| sycamore | Acer pseudoplatanus | Not listed in GB list | tree | aceraceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
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