Mills Rocks
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TQ414370 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 1.91 | 2014-02-28 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Sandstone
Description
Area, 2.25 ha. 5.5 ac. Description This site contains one of the few outcrops of Tunbridge Wells Sandstone in the county with a community of 'Atlantic' plants. This community is unusual and contains several plants with a restricted distribution. The rock outcrops support a number of rare plants and particularly notable is reed fescue grass Festuca altissima which has only one other southern English locality and occurs sparsely elsewhere in Britain. The hay scented buckler fern Dryopteris aemula also grows on the rocks and the rich bryophyte flora mosses and liverworts includes Odontoschisma denudatum, Cephalozia connivens and Calypogeia integristipula. Woodland around and on the plateau top, is very variable. Pedunculate oak Quercus robur, beech Fagus sylvatica, holly Ilex aquifolium, birch Betula pendula and hazel Corylus avellana are all present above bracken and bramble.
Species mentioned
Show the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hay-scented fern | Dryopteris aemula | LC | fern | dryopteridaceae |
| wood fescue | Festuca altissima | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| forcipated pincerwort | Cephalozia connivens | LC | liverwort | jungermanniales |
| matchstick flapwort | Odontoschisma denudatum | LC | liverwort | jungermanniales |
| Calypogeia integristipula | LC | moss | calypogeiaceae | |
| birch | Betula pendula | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| beech | Fagus sylvatica | LC | tree | fabiaceae |
| holly | Ilex aquifolium | LC | tree | aquifoliaceae |
| 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.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus robur |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus robur |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| 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 |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula 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 |
| 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
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Matches 2 species from the description above: Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera 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