Lullington Heath
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (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 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| 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
Show the 27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Species | Status | Via 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
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera 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
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix 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
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera 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