Treyford to Bepton Down
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SU828178 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 25.58 | 2023-06-28 |
| SU837177 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 43.1 | 2024-03-22 |
| SU850174 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 38.77 | 2024-03-22 |
| SU855174 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 38.77 | 2024-03-22 |
| SU858170 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 38.77 | 2024-03-22 |
| SU858172 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 38.77 | 2024-03-22 |
| SU859174 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 14.06 | 2023-06-28 |
| SU864170 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 38.77 | 2024-03-22 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Description The escarpment from Treyford to Bepton Down contains representative examples of unimproved chalk grassland and yew woodland developed on the Upper, Middle and Lower Chalk of the western South Downs. Both of these habitats are rare nationally, the area of unimproved chalk grassland in particular has declined dramatically over the last few decades. Several particularly rare and uncommon mollusc species snails are also present. The site comprises three separate blocks along the north scarp slope with additional areas in Stead Combe – an east facing dry valley. The semi natural chalk grassland, chalk scrub and ash beech yew woodlands have been fragmented and altered by the extensive planting of conifers along the escarpment. Species rich unimproved chalk grassland dominated by sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina and upright brome Bromus erectus occurs throughout, with herbs such as round headed rampion Phyteuma orbiculare, horshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and carline thistle Carlina vulgaris. Several species of orchid are present including frog Dactylorhiza viridis, bee Ophrys apifera and musk orchids Herminium monorchis. Chalk bryophytes, mosses, are well represented and in addition Racomitrium lanuginosum has been recorded. This moss is rare in the south east and reflects the 'oceanic' nature of this north facing ridge. In ungrazed swards tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum becomes dominant thus reducing diversity and in semi improved areas Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus grows with it. However, herbs such as salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor still persist. hawthorn Crataegus monogyna scrub is now invading much of the ungrazed grassland, while a more diverse mixed scrub community with hazel Corylus avellana and guelder rose Viburnum opulus is established in other areas. Mature mixed woodland with yew Taxus baccata, beech Fagus sylvatica and ash Fraxinus excelsior clothes the lower slopes and Stead Combe. In all but the most shaded areas there is a dense ground cover of dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum. Bird’s nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis is also present. Ash dominated woodland tends to be more open with a diverse associated scrub layer and rides containing chalk grassland plants such as marjoram Origanum vulgare and yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata.
Species mentioned
Show the 25 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
W13 — Yew wood
Taxus baccata woodland
Show 37 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer campestre, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Buxus sempervirens, Sambucus nigra, Euonymus europaeus, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Crataegus monogyna, Mnium hornum, Fissidens viridulus, Brachythecium velutinum, Ctenidium molluscum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhynchostegium murale, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Tamus communis, Arum maculatum, Eupatorium cannabinum, Inula conyza, Mercurialis perennis, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Fragaria vesca, Rubus fruticosus agg., Atropa belladonna, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Brachypodium sylvaticum
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