Lullingstone Park

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.3549, 0.1742

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (4)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TQ507642 Favourable 9.33 2011-05-26
TQ512641 Favourable 22.16 2011-05-26
TQ514638 Favourable 16.26 2011-05-26
TQ518640 Favourable 18.68 2011-05-26

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
sparrowhawk Breeding

Description

Area, 62 ha. 153 ac. Description This site includes old pollard trees and other woodland supporting important communities of invertebrates, lichens, breeding birds and fungi. The woodland is dominated by very tall mature trees, particularly beech Fagus sylvatica as well as pedunculate and sessile oaks Quercus robur and Q. petraea, hornbeam Carpinus betulus, ash Fraxinus excelsior and sweet chestnut Castanea sativa. The ground vegetation is dominated by bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis and bramble Rubus fruticosus and sometimes bracken Pteridium aquilinum. Some of the trees were planted in the 18th century, but many of the pollards are thought to be 400 or more years old. These trees are very large, with girths up to about 10 metres about 30 feet but have not been polled for about 150 years. The bark of these ancient trees supports over 60 species of epiphytic 'growing harmlessly on plants' lichens. The lichen community, unusually rich for these pollution sensitive organisms close to large urban areas, includes many typical of old forest, such as Lecanactis lyncea and Enterographa crassa on oaks and Thelotrema lepadinum on hornbeam. The site's long continuity of woodland habitats including abundant dead wood and many fungi has encouraged the development of a species rich invertebrate fauna. Over 340 beetles have been recorded, including over 30 nationally scarce and 2 nationally rare species, a fairy winged beetle Ptenidium gressneri and as cirtid beetle Prionocyphon serricornis. More than 270 moths and butterflies are known to occur; the many scarce moths present include the barred hook tip Watsonalla cultraria and the satin lutestring Tetheella fluctuosa. A scarce money spider Porrhomma microphthalmum and the scarce Roman snail Helix pomatia also occur. A number of the invertebrates found here have not been recorded elsewhere in Kent. Over 500 species of fungi have been identified from this site including several rarely recorded in Britain and one, an Amanita species, which is new to science and has yet to be described and named. The site's well developed woodland structure and the abundance of invertebrates has led to the presence of an outstanding community of breeding birds, including sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes and lesser spotted woodpecker Dryobates minor. Some formerly open areas have been colonised by scrub, especially hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and elder Sambucus nigra, though there remains a large population of adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, a plant which is scarce in Kent.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
beetle Prionocyphon serricornis Not listed in GB list beetle scirtidae
hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes EN (Breeding) bird-finch fringillidae
sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus NT (Breeding) bird-hawk falconidae
lesser spotted woodpecker Dryobates minor EN (Breeding) bird-woodpecker picidae
adders-tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum LC fern ophioglossaceae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
no common name Enterographa crassa LC lichen no common name
no common name Lecanactis lyncea Not listed in GB list lichen no common name
barnacle lichen Thelotrema lepadinum LC lichen no common name
satin lutestring Tetheella fluctuosa Not listed in GB list moth drepanidae
barred hook-tip Watsonalla cultraria Not listed in GB list moth drepanidae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
elder Sambucus nigra LC shrub caprifoliaceae
Roman snail Helix pomatia Not listed in GB list snail helicidae
hornbeam Carpinus betulus LC tree betulaceae
sweet chestnut Castanea sativa LC tree fagaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae

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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus fruticosus
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Carpinus betulus, Castanea sativa, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Rubus fruticosus
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Pteridium aquilinum
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Quercus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
White-spotted pug
Eupithecia tripunctaria
Near Threatened Sambucus nigra
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Quercus spp.
Clay fan-foot
Paracolax tristalis
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Common fan-foot
Pechipogo strigilata
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Frosted green
Polyploca ridens
Near Threatened Quercus robur

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.

Plant communities

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 8 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Sambucus nigra

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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 8 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Sambucus nigra

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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum

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

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