Firle Escarpment

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.8325, 0.0903

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Declining (8) Unfavourable Recovering (5)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TQ438055 Unfavourable Declining 24.04 2024-04-23
TQ439057 Unfavourable Recovering 9.9 2017-10-02
TQ442059 Unfavourable Recovering 9.9 2017-10-02
TQ446059 Unfavourable Declining 27.84 2024-04-23
TQ453058 Unfavourable Declining 27.84 2024-04-23
TQ454063 Unfavourable Recovering 39.91 2014-06-23
TQ459062 Unfavourable Recovering 11.04 2014-06-23
TQ471062 Unfavourable Recovering 61.24 2014-06-18
TQ488059 Unfavourable Declining 72.13 2024-04-30
TQ495051 Unfavourable Declining 11.16 2022-09-21
TQ501046 Unfavourable Declining 19.73 2022-09-21
TQ505043 Unfavourable Declining 3.86 2024-05-01
TQ509039 Unfavourable Declining 21.3 2024-04-30

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Area, 301.3 ha. 744.6 ac. Description An extensive stretch of chalk grassland on north facing slopes of the South Downs. The diverse flora includes several unusual plants and one that is nationally rare. Chalk grassland is now a nationally uncommon habitat due to agricultural improvement. At this site chalk grassland is restricted to the thin rendzina soils of the steep escarpment. Deeper soils at the foot of the escarpment carry mature woodlands. Chalk scrub is scattered throughout the area of unimproved grassland. A large part of the downland is rich in plant species. Abundant species include fairy flax Linum catharticum, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, milkwort Polygala calcarea and the grasses, sheep's fescue Festuca ovina and upright brome Bromus erectus. Taller grasslands are dominated by upright brome, tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum and false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius. A number of unusual chalk downland plants occur on the site including pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, bee orchid Ophrys apifera, felwort Gentianella amarella, clove pink Dianthus caryophyllus and a plant that is restricted to chalk in the south part of Britain, round headed rampion Phyteuma orbiculare. The rarest plant, however, is the early spider orchid Ophrys sphegodes. This orchid is known in only a few, southern localities in the UK and receives special protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Scrub is invading ungrazed areas throughout the site. Belts of gorse Ulex europaeus are most prominent but blackthorn Prunus spinosa, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana and dogwood Cornus sanguinea also occur in places. The Firle, Roundhead and Loose plantations at the foot of the escarpment consist of mature beech Fagus sylvatica with ash Fraxinus excelsior, sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, hazel Corylus avellana and hawthorn above a sparse ground flora of dogs mercury Mercurialis perennis and slender false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius LC grass poaceae
tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum LC grass poaceae
wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum LC grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis LC herb orchidaceae
spotted orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii LC herb orchidaceae
clove pink Dianthus caryophyllus Not listed in GB list herb carophyllaceae
autumn gentian Gentianella amarella LC herb gentianaceae
fairy flax Linum catharticum LC herb linaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
bee orchid Ophrys apifera LC herb orchidaceae
early spider orchid Ophrys sphegodes LC herb orchidaceae
round headed rampion Phyteuma orbiculare LC herb campanulaceae
chalk milkwort Polygala calcarea VU herb polygalaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
dogwood Cornus sanguinea LC shrub cornaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
gorse Ulex europaeus LC shrub leguminosae
wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana LC shrub caprifoliaceae
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae

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
Chequered skipper
Carterocephalus palaemon
Endangered Brachypodium sylvaticum
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Prunus spinosa
Black hairstreak
Satyrium pruni
Endangered Prunus spinosa
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Poterium sanguisorba
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Viburnum lantana
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Prunus spinosa
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Brachypodium sylvaticum, Festuca ovina
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Ulex spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Poterium sanguisorba
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Ulex europaeus
Brown hairstreak
Thecla betulae
Vulnerable Prunus spinosa
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Prunus spinosa
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Fagus sylvatica
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa
Silver-spotted skipper
Hesperia comma
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Brachypodium sylvaticum
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Arrhenatherum elatius, 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 13 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Mercurialis perennis, Poterium sanguisorba, Prunus spinosa, 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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 5 species from the description above: Brachypodium sylvaticum, Corylus avellana, Mercurialis perennis, Prunus spinosa, 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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 1 species from the description above: Festuca ovina

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