Lullington Heath

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.7944, 0.1888

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1) Favourable (2) Unfavourable Declining (5)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TQ537017 Unfavourable Recovering 10.06 2015-09-24
TQ538017 Favourable 6.66 2009-02-23
TQ541017 Unfavourable Declining 11.01 2019-10-28
TQ542019 Unfavourable Declining 7.89 2019-10-28
TQ543016 Unfavourable Declining 9.49 2019-10-28
TQ546017 Unfavourable Declining 4.97 2019-10-28
TQ547016 Unfavourable Declining 16.54 2019-10-28
TQ550016 Favourable 6.11 2022-07-27

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
lesser whitethroat Breeding
nightingale Breeding
whitethroat Breeding

Description

Area, 71.7 ha. 175.7 ac. Description The primary importance of this site, which lies on Upper and Middle Chalk, is the presence of two nationally uncommon habitats, chalk heath and chalk grassland. Chalk heath communities have developed at this site on neutral loess soils and contain both plants adapted to growing in acidic soils calcifuges and those adapted to growing in basic soils calcicoles. The areas of chalk grassland are rich in flowering plants and lie on thin rendzina soils. Areas of scrub and rough grassland are valuable for birds and invertebrates. The site has 2 dew ponds. Chalk heath once covered 40 hectares at this site but the onset of myxomatosis in the 1950s virtually destroyed the rabbit population which had previously maintained the heath and scrub consequently gained a firm hold. Now the areas of chalk heath are restricted to wide mown rides and grazed paddocks. The bell heather Erica cinerea and sheep's fescue Festuca ovina mosaic which prevailed prior to the rabbits decline has now been largely replaced by a ling Calluna vulgaris/red fescue Festuca rubra community; previously the latter was preferentially grazed by the rabbits. Calcifuges include betony Betonica officinalis, slender St John's wort Hypericum pulchrum, heath grass Danthonia decumbens and the shrub, burnet rose Rosa spinosissima. These contrast with the calcicoles salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris and milkwort Polygala vulgaris. The chalk grassland is dominated by sheep's fescue and upright brome Bromus erectus. Abundant species include salad burnet, fairy flax Linum catharticum, wild basil Clinopodium vulgare and basil thyme Acinos arvensis. Burnt orchid Neotinea ustulata and bee orchid Ophrys apifera also occur. Scrub dominates much of the site. Gorse Ulex europaeus occupies a large part of the plateau but steeper slopes support a richer flora of wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana, elder Sambucus nigra and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. Rough grassland of false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius and cock's foot Dactylis glomerata occurs in parts of the mixed scrub. The scrub is locally valuable for breeding birds including lesser whitethroat, nightingale and yellowhammer while scrub and grassland supports butterflies such as marbled white and silver spotted skipper. The two dew ponds provide an important additional habitat for flora and fauna.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella LC (Breeding) bird-bunting emberizidae
nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos VU (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
whitethroat Sylvia communis Not listed in GB list bird-warbler sylviidae
lesser whitethroat Sylvia curruca Not listed in GB list bird-warbler sylviidae
false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius LC grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
cock's foot Dactylis glomerata LC grass poaceae
heath grass Danthonia decumbens NT grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
basil thyme Acinos arvensis Not listed in GB list herb lamiaceae
betony Betonica officinalis VU herb lamiaceae
wild basil Clinopodium vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
dropwort Filipendula vulgaris LC herb rosaceae
slender St John's-wort Hypericum pulchrum LC herb hypericaceae
fairy flax Linum catharticum LC herb linaceae
burnt orchid Neotinea ustulata EN herb orchidaceae
bee orchid Ophrys apifera LC herb orchidaceae
common milkwort Polygala vulgaris VU herb polygalaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
burnet rose Rosa spinosissima LC shrub rosaceae
elder Sambucus nigra LC shrub caprifoliaceae
gorse Ulex europaeus LC shrub leguminosae
wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana LC shrub caprifoliaceae
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
bell heather Erica cinerea NT shrub dwarf ericaceae

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
Straw belle
Aspitates gilvaria
Endangered Linum catharticum
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp., Rosa spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna
Shoulder-striped clover
Heliothis maritima
Endangered Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Crataegus spp., Rosa spp.
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Poterium sanguisorba
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Viburnum lantana
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Hypericum spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra
True lover's knot
Lycophotia porphyrea
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Rosa spp.
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Ulex spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Poterium sanguisorba
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Ulex europaeus
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna, Erica cinerea
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna, Rosa spinosissima
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Large nutmeg
Apamea anceps
Near Threatened Dactylis glomerata
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Grey scalloped
Dyscia fagaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Crataegus spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Festuca ovina
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Betonica officinalis, Crataegus monogyna
White-spotted pug
Eupithecia tripunctaria
Near Threatened Sambucus nigra
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus spp.
Silver-spotted skipper
Hesperia comma
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Weaver's wave
Idaea contiguaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Dactylis glomerata
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca ovina

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 6 species from the description above: Arrhenatherum elatius, Crataegus monogyna, Dactylis glomerata, Poterium sanguisorba, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana

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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra

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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Ulex europaeus

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