Coulters Dean
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SU747190 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 2.21 | 2014-09-30 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Area, 1.91 hectares 2.69 ac Description Coulters Dean is a small area of chalk grassland on a west facing fold in the South Downs escarpment and is of considerable scientific interest because a its flora has been recorded at intervals since 1914; b its flora and invertebrate fauna are very rich compared with that of the generally north facing escarpment of the South Downs. The flora includes remarkably large populations of horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, rampion Phyteuma orbiculare, clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and other species characteristic of ancient chalk grassland. At least 11 species of orchids occur. There is a diverse invertebrate especially butterfly fauna for the size of the site, including a population of the nationally rare Duke of Burgundy fritillary Hamearis lucina.
Species mentioned
Show the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke of Burgundy | Hamearis lucina | VU | butterfly | riodinidae |
| clustered bellflower | Campanula glomerata | VU | herb | campanulaceae |
| horseshoe vetch | Hippocrepis comosa | VU | herb | fabaceae |
| round headed rampion | Phyteuma orbiculare | LC | herb | campanulaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Hippocrepis comosa |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Hippocrepis comosa |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.