Sheepleas
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TQ088517 | — | Favourable | 9.54 | 2010-07-15 |
| TQ089515 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 90.04 | 2010-07-15 |
| TQ092509 | — | Favourable | 0.31 | 2021-11-16 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Quaternary · Rock Type: Chalk, Chert, Greensand
Description
Area, 98.3 ha. 242.9 ac. Description Sheepleas is a diverse site situated on the dip slope of the North Downs. It includes examples of pedunculate oak ash beech woodland on chalk and several fragments of south east chalk grassland, both of which are nationally rare habitats. The combination of woodland, scrub and grassland communities supports a considerable diversity of invertebrates, especially butterflies Lepidoptera and several nationally uncommon species have been recorded. A trackside cutting in Mountain Wood is also of geological importance. The woodland which is largely of secondary origin consists principally of beech Fagus sylvatica, ash Fraxinus excelsior and hazel Corylus avellana together with scattered holly Ilex aquifolium, yew Taxus baccata, field maple Acer campestre and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. Parts have been modified by small plantations of larch, Larix decidua, pine Pinus spp., Norway spruce Picea abies and other exotics, but most of the woodland retains a semi natural shrub and field layer. This, however, becomes very sparse in areas dominated by beech and yew which cast a dense shade. The woodland ground flora includes dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, sanicle Sanicula europaea, woodruff Galium odoratum and spurge laurel Daphne laureola. Woodland orchids include bird's nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis, broad leaved helleborine Epipactis helleborine, white helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium and narrow lipped helleborine Epipactis leptochila, the latter an uncommon plant, largely confined to southern England and rare in Surrey. Another rare Surrey plant, yellow bird's nest Hypopitys monotropa and the nationally uncommon grass Bromopsis benekenii also occur in the woodland. The chalk grassland areas are botanically very rich. Characteristic species include sheep's fescue grass Festuca ovina, purging flax Linum catharticum, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and less commonly bee orchid Ophrys apifera, fly orchid Ophrys insectifera and bastard toadflax Thesium humifusum, an uncommon plant with a restricted distribution in Surrey. Mixed scrub of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, dogwood Cornus sanguinea, wild privet Ligustrum vulgare, spindle Euonymus europaeus and hazel has encroached on the chalk grassland in many parts of the site. Associated with the scrub communities are two plants which are uncommon in Surrey, pale St John's wort Hypericum montanum and stinking iris Iris foetidissima. Sheep leas supports a rich and varied invertebrate fauna, which includes two nationally rare flies Norellia spinipes and Microdon devius, the rufous grasshopper Gomphocerippus rufus, a species almost entirely confined to chalk hills in southern England and the pearl bordered fritillary butterfly Boloria euphrosyne. This site is also notable for its colonies of the Duke of Burgundy fritillary Hamearis lucina. A trackside cutting in Mountain Wood exposes the Mountain Wood gravel, a unique Pleistocene deposit composed almost entirely of chert from the Lower Greensand, here resting on the chalk dip slope of the North Downs. The composition of this gravel implies that it was emplaced prior to the erosion of the Gault Clay Vale to the south and it therefore has important implications for the Quaternary history of the Weald, as well as for evolution of the London Basin.
Species mentioned
Show the 36 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusInsects 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. |
| Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata |
Endangered | Acer campestre |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna |
| No common name Melanophila acuminata |
Endangered | Picea abies |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica |
| Feathered beauty Peribatodes secundaria |
Endangered | Picea abies |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Larix spp., Picea spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer campestre, Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Scabiosa columbaria |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp., Hypericum spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca ovina |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix spp. |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna |
| 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 | Picea abies |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Festuca spp. |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Crataegus 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, Galium spp. |
| Larch pug Eupithecia lariciata |
Near Threatened | Larix decidua, Picea abies |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp. |
| Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina, Iris foetidissima |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium 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
W12 — Beech wood
Fagus sylvatica-Mercurialis perennis woodland
Matches 17 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Cephalanthera damasonium, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Daphne laureola, Euonymus europaeus, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Galium odoratum, Ilex aquifolium, Iris foetidissima, Ligustrum vulgare, Mercurialis perennis, Neottia nidus-avis, Sanicula europaea, Taxus baccata
Show 91 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Carpinus betulus, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Aesculus hippocastanum, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus avium, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Buxus sempervirens, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Viburnum opulus, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Crataegus monogyna, Daphne laureola, Carex flacca, Carex sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Fissidens taxifolius, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thamnobryum alopecurum, Tamus communis, Anthriscus sylvestris, Heracleum sphondylium, Sanicula europaea, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Mycelis muralis, Solidago virgaurea, Cynoglossum officinale, Alliaria petiolata, Campanula trachelium, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Hypericum hirsutum, Iris foetidissima, Ajuga reptans, Glechoma hederacea, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Epilobium montanum, Cephalanthera damasonium, Neottia nidus-avis, Neottia ovata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus bulbosus, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium odoratum, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Matches 12 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Euonymus europaeus, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Ilex aquifolium, Iris foetidissima, Ligustrum vulgare, Mercurialis perennis, Taxus baccata
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
W14 — Beech wood, Wood pasture
Fagus sylvatica-Rubus fruticosus woodland
Matches 10 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Epipactis helleborine, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Galium odoratum, Ilex aquifolium, Ligustrum vulgare, Mercurialis perennis, Taxus baccata
Show 76 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Prunus avium, Sorbus aria, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Sambucus nigra, Ruscus aculeatus, Ligustrum vulgare, Carex remota, Carex sylvatica, Luzula pilosa, Mnium hornum, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens taxifolius, Brachythecium rutabulum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Arum maculatum, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Stellaria media agg., Euphorbia amygdaloides, Mercurialis perennis, Hypericum pulchrum, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Epipactis helleborine, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Geum urbanum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium odoratum, Galium verum, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus giganteus, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas
W15 — Beech wood, Wood pasture
Fagus sylvatica-Deschampsia flexuosa woodland
Matches 4 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Ilex aquifolium, Taxus baccata
Show 54 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata, Calluna vulgaris, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ruscus aculeatus, Carex pilulifera, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum formosum, Tetraphis pellucida, Calypogeia fissa, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnocolea inflata, Lepidozia reptans, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia squamules, Lonicera periclymenum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Rubus fruticosus agg., Melanpyrum pratense, Agrostis capillaris, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 3 species from the description above: Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Mercurialis perennis
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
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Matches 1 species from the description above: Festuca ovina
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