Snape Warren

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.1665, 1.5169

Also within

Suffolk County Suffolk Coast & Heaths Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1)

Unit	Feature	Condition	Area (ha)	Assessed
TM410580	—	Unfavourable Recovering	47.58	2013-07-24

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Habitats

Bracken scrub, Salt marsh, Upland acid grassland

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Coastal

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Species	Season
nightjar	Unknown

Description

Area, 47.2 ha. 116.6 ac. Description Snape Warren Snape Warren is an important remnant of the once extensive 'Sandlings' heaths of coastal Suffolk. It is situated on sandy soils sloping down to the Alde Estuary and lies about one mile east of the village of Snape. The site is a fine example of the lowland heathland of eastern England, which has been subject to considerable loss in the last 40 years. The vegetation is characterised by extensive areas of Calluna heath interspersed with acid grass land dominated by common bent Agrostis capillaris. The heather areas are dominated by ling Calluna vulgaris which has a varied age structure and includes pioneer, building, mature and degenerate stages of development. The latter stages support a variety of Cladonia lichens and mosses. However, bell heather Erica cinerea and western gorse Ulex gallii also occur occasionally. The acid grassland present is dominated by common bent Agrostis capillaris and sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, with characteristic species such as heath bedstraw Galium saxatile, sheep's sorrel Rumex acetosella and harebell Campanula rotundifolia. Where this grassland adjoins the Alde Estuary, the saline influence can be seen in the presence of species such as buck's horn plantain Plantago coronopus and common saltmarsh grass Puccinellia maritima. The heathland shows some invasion by bracken Pteridium aquilinum, gorse Ulex europaeus and secondary birch Betula sp. and pedunculate oak Quercus robur woodland, which now occupy substantial areas. Trackways across the site support populations of the uncommon mossy stonecrop Crassula tillaea. The site supports a number of reptile and bird species characteristic of heathland, including common lizard, adder and nightjar.

Species mentioned

Show the 15 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
nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus	LC (Breeding)	bird-nightjar	caprimulgidae
bracken	Pteridium aquilinum	LC	fern	dennstaedtiaceae
common bent	Agrostis capillaris	LC	grass	poaceae
sheep's fescue	Festuca ovina	LC	grass	poaceae
saltmarsh grass	Puccinellia maritima	LC	grass	poaceae
harebell	Campanula rotundifolia	LC	herb	campanulaceae
mossy stonecrop	Crassula tillaea	LC	herb	crassulaceae
heath bedstraw	Galium saxatile	LC	herb	rubiaceae
buck's-horn plantain	Plantago coronopus	LC	herb	plantaginaceae
sheep's sorrel	Rumex acetosella	NT	herb	polygonaceae
gorse	Ulex europaeus	LC	shrub	leguminosae
western gorse	Ulex gallii	LC	shrub	leguminosae
bell heather or ling	Calluna vulgaris	NT	shrub dwarf	ericaceae
bell heather	Erica cinerea	NT	shrub dwarf	ericaceae
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
Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima	Endangered	Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Glanville fritillary Melitaea cinxia	Endangered	Plantago coronopus
Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens	Endangered	Quercus spp.
Fiery clearwing Pyropteron chrysidiformis	Endangered	Rumex acetosella
The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx	Vulnerable	Quercus spp.
Broom moth Ceramica pisi	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris, Pteridium aquilinum, Rumex spp.
Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria	Vulnerable	Quercus spp.
Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia	Vulnerable	Plantago spp.
Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris, Galium spp.
Garden dart Euxoa nigricans	Vulnerable	Plantago spp., Rumex spp.
Grayling Hipparchia semele	Vulnerable	Festuca ovina
Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii	Vulnerable	Galium spp.
True lover's knot Lycophotia porphyrea	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
The lackey Malacosoma neustria	Vulnerable	Quercus spp.
Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria	Vulnerable	Quercus spp.
Silver studded blue Plebejus argus	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Ulex spp.
Lead belle Scotopteryx mucronata	Vulnerable	Ulex europaeus
Early moth Theria primaria	Vulnerable	Quercus spp.
Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Quercus spp.
Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria	Vulnerable	Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola	Near Threatened	Calluna vulgaris, Quercus spp.
Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis	Near Threatened	Rumex spp.
Grey chi Antitype chi	Near Threatened	Rumex spp.
Garden tiger Arctia caja	Near Threatened	Plantago spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Rumex spp.
Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
The sallow Cirrhia icteritia	Near Threatened	Rumex spp.
Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus	Near Threatened	Agrostis spp., Festuca spp.
Heart moth Dicycla oo	Near Threatened	Quercus robur
Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria	Near Threatened	Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria	Near Threatened	Quercus spp.
September thorn Ennomos erosaria	Near Threatened	Quercus spp.
The Silurian Eriopygodes imbecilla	Near Threatened	Galium saxatile
Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa	Near Threatened	Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Festuca ovina, Galium spp., Plantago spp., Rumex spp.
Double dart Graphiphora augur	Near Threatened	Quercus spp.
Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma	Near Threatened	Festuca ovina
Weaver's wave Idaea contiguaria	Near Threatened	Calluna vulgaris
Wall Lasiommata megera	Near Threatened	Agrostis spp.
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
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata	Near Threatened	Galium spp., Rumex 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

U3 — Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland

Agrostis curtisii grassland

Matches 8 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Festuca ovina, Galium saxatile, Pteridium aquilinum, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii

Show 34 indicator species

Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex binervis, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Luzula campestris, Dicranum scoparium, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Hypochaeris radicata, Teucrium scorodonia, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Pteridium aquilinum

U2 — Brownfield, Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland

Deschampsia flexuosa grassland

Matches 7 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Calluna vulgaris, Festuca ovina, Galium saxatile, Pteridium aquilinum, Rumex acetosella, Ulex europaeus

Show 40 indicator species

Betula pendula, Quercus hybrid, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex europaeus, Carex nigra, Eriophorum vaginatum, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus pyriformis, Dicranum scoparium, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum piliferum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Cladonia gracilis, Chamerion angustifolium, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Pteridium aquilinum

U4 — Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland

Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Galium saxatile grassland

Matches 6 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Calluna vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Festuca ovina, Galium saxatile, Pteridium aquilinum

Show 82 indicator species

Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex caryophyllea, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Lophocolea bidentata, Conopodium majus, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Taraxacum officianalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus montanus, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Thymus praecox, Euphrasia officinalis, Oxalis acetosella, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Polygala serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Viola lutea, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pratensis, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Lolium perenne, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Chara curta

U5 — Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland

Nardus stricta-Galium saxatile grassland

Matches 6 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Calluna vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Erica cinerea, Festuca ovina, Galium saxatile

Show 79 indicator species

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Sphagnum papillosum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia uncialis, Cirsium palustre, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum palustre, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Trifolium repens, Narthecium ossifragum, Plantago lanceolata, Polygala serpyllifolia, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Alchemilla alpina, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant

M25 — Blanket bog, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland acid grassland

Molinia caerulea-Potentilla erecta mire

Matches 5 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Calluna vulgaris, Festuca ovina, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii

Show 85 indicator species

Salix cinerea, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex echinata, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Angelica sylvestris, Carum verticillatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Serratula tinctoria, Cardamine pratensis, Lobelia urens, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Hypericum pulchrum, Hypericum tetrapterum, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza maculata, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Phragmites australis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Osmunda regalis

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 5 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Galium saxatile, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Ulex europaeus

Show 53 indicator species

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

SM17 — Salt marsh

Artemisia maritima salt-marsh community

Matches 2 species from the description above: Plantago coronopus, Puccinellia maritima

Show 24 indicator species

Atriplex portulacoides, Juncus gerardii, Juncus maritimus, Suaeda maritima, Suaeda vera, Artemisia maritima, Cochlearia anglica, Cochlearia officinalis, Spergularia media, Atriplex hastata, Salicornia europaea, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago coronopus, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium vulgare, Glaux maritima, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia atherica, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Hordeum marinum, Parapholis strigosa, Puccinellia maritima

SM22 — Salt marsh

Halimione portulacoides-Frankenia laevis salt-marsh community

Matches 2 species from the description above: Plantago coronopus, Puccinellia maritima

Show 14 indicator species

Atriplex portulacoides, Frankenia laevis, Suaeda maritima, Spergularia media, Salicornia europaea, Salicornia perennis, Plantago coronopus, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium vulgare, Elytrigia juncea, Festuca rubra, Parapholis strigosa, Puccinellia maritima

SM10 — Salt marsh

Transitional low-marsh vegetation with Puccinellia maritima annual Salicornia species and Suaeda maritima