Otford to Shoreham Downs

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.3413, 0.1996

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Declining (2) Favourable (8) Unfavourable Recovering (5)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TQ529611 Unfavourable Declining 5.9 2011-06-17
TQ530610 Favourable 2.74 2011-06-27
TQ530615 Unfavourable Declining 22.37 2011-06-17
TQ530623 Unfavourable Recovering 5.21 2011-06-27
TQ530635 Unfavourable Recovering 4.3 2011-06-20
TQ531605 Favourable 10.68 2011-06-17
TQ531607 Favourable 2.9 2011-06-27
TQ531631 Favourable 8.94 2011-06-20
TQ532626 Unfavourable Recovering 10.34 2011-06-20
TQ534602 Unfavourable Recovering 12.24 2011-06-27
TQ535627 Favourable 15.83 2011-06-20
TQ535632 Favourable 21.74 2011-06-28
TQ536597 Unfavourable Recovering 3.91 2011-06-27
TQ537626 Favourable 5.09 2011-06-27
TQ538599 Favourable 12.92 2011-06-27

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Area, 147.3 ha. 363.7 ac. Description This site includes areas of species rich chalk grassland and chalk scrub and woodlands on a variety of soils. It supports a range of scarce and rare invertebrates. The site lies in the valley where the River Darent has cut through the chalk escarpment. Both chalk and overlying deposits are close to the surface and these different rock types produce varied soils, which on the hill tops are clayey and poorly drained while others, mostly on the steep slopes, are thin, calcareous chalky and freely draining. Much of the chalk downland was traditionally managed by grazing, mainly by sheep, which over centuries led to the development of very species rich chalk grassland. A lack of grazing in recent decades has led to an overgrown form of this grassland over much of the site which is dominated by upright brome grass Bromus erectus. This is still very diverse, supporting over a hundred plant species. Other plants in the sward include sheep's fescue grass Festuca ovina, red fescue Festuca rubra, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, quaking grass Briza media and devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis. Two nationally scarce *1 plants are found growing here, man orchid Acerus anthropophorum and chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea. The formerly widespread scrub species juniper Juniperus communis occurs here at one of its last Kent localities. Much of the grassland areas grade into woodland through an intermediate scrub phase. Typically it is dominated by hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, ash Fraxinus excelsior, roses Rosa species, with traveller's joy Clematis vitalba, privet Ligustrum vulgare, black bryony Tamus communis and a variety of calcicolous chalk loving species. The scrub communities vary greatly in age from a few years to a number of decades. The woodlands vary according to the underlying geology and contain both ancient *2 and more recent sites. Areas on the deposits overlying the chalk are dominated by ash, pedunculate oak Quercus robur standards, downy birch Betula pubescens, field maple Acer campestre, hazel Corylus avellana and sweet chestnut Castanea sativa. The ground flora is dominated by bramble Rubus fruticosus but includes a variety of other woodland species such as bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and giant fescue grass Schedonorus giganteus. The scarp slope woods are mainly beech Fagus sylvatica woodlands which grade into ash field maple woodlands at the foot of the scarp. The stands contain a range of tree species including yew Taxus baccata, ash, field maple, whitebeam Sorbus aucuparia, silver birch Betula pendula, hornbeam Carpinus betulus, wych elm and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. The open canopy produced by the storm of October 1987 has encouraged a ground flora dominated by bramble with traveller's joy, ivy Hedera helix, wood false brome grass Brachypodium sylvaticum and other woodland species. The variety of habitats support outstanding communities of woodland and chalk grassland invertebrate species. Amongst the nationally scarce*1 species present are moths, plumed prominant Ptilophora plumigera which feeds on field maple and Eudonia delunella which feeds on lichens and mosses on the trunks of ash, apple Malus species and occasionally on elms Ulmus species. A scarce hoverfly Cheilosia soror is present, found on the chalk downs visiting umbels in glades of woods. It has been reported to breed in truffles. *1 nationally scarce, species recorded from between 16 and 100 10 3 10km squares in Britain. *2 ancient woodland site, A wooded site believed to have been wooded since before A D 1600.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum LC grass poaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
giant fescue Schedonorus giganteus LC grass poaceae
dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule VU herb asteraceae
fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea NT herb orchidaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon LC herb lamiaceae
rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus LC herb asteraceae
birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus LC herb fabaceae
ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata LC herb plantaginaceae
chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea VU herb polygalaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
devils-bit scabious Succisa pratensis VU herb caprifoliaceae
black bryony Tamus communis LC herb climber dioscoreaceae
hoverfly Cheilosia soror Not listed in GB list hoverfly syrphidae
no common name Eudonia delunella Not listed in GB list moth crambidae
plumed prominent Ptilophora plumigera Not listed in GB list moth notodontidae
traveller's joy Clematis vitalba LC shrub ranunculaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
juniper Juniperus communis CR shrub cupressaceae
wild privet Ligustrum vulgare LC shrub oleaceae
field maple Acer campestre LC tree aceraceae
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
downy birch Betula pubescens LC tree betulaceae
hornbeam Carpinus betulus LC tree betulaceae
sweet chestnut Castanea sativa LC tree fagaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
rowan Sorbus aucuparia LC tree rosaceae
yew Taxus baccata LC tree taxaceae
ivy Hedera helix LC woody climber araliaceae

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
Black-veined moth
Siona lineata
Critically Endangered Lotus corniculatus
New forest
Zygaena viciae
Critically Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Straw belle
Aspitates gilvaria
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Marsh moth
Athetis pallustris
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Chequered skipper
Carterocephalus palaemon
Endangered Brachypodium sylvaticum
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp.
Maple pug
Eupithecia inturbata
Endangered Acer campestre
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna
Wood white
Leptidea sinapis
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Heath fritillary
Melitaea athalia
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Glanville fritillary
Melitaea cinxia
Endangered Plantago lanceolata
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Slender scotch
Zygaena loti
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Lotus corniculatus, Poterium sanguisorba
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Rubus fruticosus
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Acer campestre, Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula spp., Carpinus betulus, Castanea sativa, Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Sorbus aucuparia
Dingy skipper
Erynnis tages
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Plantago spp., Succisa pratensis
Juniper pug
Eupithecia pusillata
Vulnerable Juniperus communis, Juniperus spp.
Garden dart
Euxoa nigricans
Vulnerable Plantago spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Brachypodium sylvaticum, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp.
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Poterium sanguisorba, Rubus fruticosus
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Plantago lanceolata
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Plantago spp., Sorbus aucuparia
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Betula pendula, Betula pubescens
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Betula spp., Festuca ovina, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Plantago spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Quercus spp.
Silver-spotted skipper
Hesperia comma
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Brachypodium sylvaticum
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
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
White prominent
Leucodonta bicoloria
Regionally Extinct Betula spp.

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 16 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula pendula, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Clematis vitalba, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Hedera helix, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Poterium sanguisorba, Quercus robur, Tamus communis, Taxus baccata

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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 7 species from the description above: Acer campestre, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Corylus avellana, Festuca rubra, Hedera helix, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Plantago lanceolata

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

Matches 3 species from the description above: Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Succisa pratensis

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

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa