Shipman Head & Shipman Down (Bryher)

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 49.9656, -6.3625

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (9) Unfavourable Recovering (4)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SV872151 Favourable 35.27 2023-01-13
SV872155 Favourable 35.27 2023-01-13
SV872163 Unfavourable Recovering 4.91 2009-09-13
SV873155 Favourable 35.27 2023-01-13
SV873161 Favourable 35.27 2023-01-13
SV873163 Unfavourable Recovering 4.91 2009-09-13
SV874156 Favourable 35.27 2023-01-13
SV874160 Favourable 35.27 2023-01-13
SV874162 Unfavourable Recovering 4.91 2009-09-13
SV874164 Unfavourable Recovering 4.91 2009-09-13
SV876156 Favourable 35.27 2023-01-13
SV877160 Favourable 35.27 2023-01-13
SV881156 Favourable 35.27 2023-01-13

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.

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Erratic, Raised Beach, Rock Outcrop · Geological Period: Quaternary · Rock Type: Granite

Landscape processes: Coastal, Glacial, Volcanic / Igneous

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
phalacrocorax aristotelis Breeding
herring gull Breeding
kittiwake Breeding
razorbill Breeding
ringed plover Breeding

Description

Area, 40.7 ha. 100.6 ac. Description Shipman Head forms the north end of the island of Bryher on the north western margins of the Isles of Scilly archipelago. From Shipman Head a ridge runs south towards the low plateau of Shipman Down. Hercynian granite underlies the site forming mainly shallow podzolic soils. These soils and the extreme maritime exposure have led to the development of 'waved' maritime heathland containing some rare lichen species. Hell Bay, between Shipman Head and Shipman Down, exhibits an important fossil shore platform with associated raised beach deposits. Pleistocene glacial outwash gravels with abundant erratic pebbles outcrop cover much of the site.' Waved' maritime heath covers much of the central part of Shipman Head Down. Here the vegetation is dominated by low prostrate ridges of heather Calluna vulgaris together with bell heather Erica cinerea and western gorse Ulex gallii. Additional species include tormentil Potentilla erecta, common bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, heath bedstraw Galium saxatile, English stonecrop Sedum anglicum and sheep's fescue Festuca ovina. European gorse Ulex europaeus forms more extensive scrub along the south side of the Downs whilst on some of the margins on the plateau, where the soils are deeper, bracken Pteridium aquilinum, bramble Rubus fruticosus and honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum are more abundant. Above some of the coves and along the coastal edge areas of more species rich maritime grassland occur. thrift Armeria maritima, buck's horn plantain Plantago coronopus, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and sorrel Rumex acetosa are common together with a small population of spring squill Scilla verna. Two plants of particular importance on this site are the nationally rare orange bird's foot Ornithopus pinnatus and the notable hairy bird's foot trefoil Lotus subbiflorus. In addition there are certain lichen species on the heathland, such as Lobaria pulmonaria and Teloschistes flavicans. The isolated promontory of Shipman Head is an important sea bird colony site with seven species of breeding sea birds. There is a large colony of kittiwake Rissa tridactyla and herring gull Larus argentatus together with great black backed gull L. marinus, lesser black backed gull L. fuscus, razorbill Alca torda, shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis and storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus. In addition ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula breed on the open heathland.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
Phalacrocorax aristotelis Not listed in GB list bird phalacrocoracidae
razorbill Alca torda LC (Breeding) bird-auk alcidae
shag Gulosus aristotelis VU (Breeding) bird-frigate fregatidae
herring gull Larus argentatus EN (NonBreeding), EN (Breeding) bird-gull laridae
kittiwake Rissa tridactyla EN (Breeding) bird-gull laridae
storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus LC (Breeding) bird-petrel hydrobatidae
ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula VU (NonBreeding) bird-wader charadriidae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus LC grass poaceae
thrift Armeria maritima CR herb plumbaginaceae
heath bedstraw Galium saxatile LC herb rubiaceae
honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum LC herb caprifoliaceae
birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus LC herb fabaceae
hairy bird's-foot trefoil Lotus subbiflorus LC herb fabaceae
orange bird's foot Ornithopus pinnatus NT herb fabaceae
buck's-horn plantain Plantago coronopus LC herb plantaginaceae
tormentil Potentilla erecta LC herb rosaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
common sorrel Rumex acetosa LC herb polygonaceae
spring squill Scilla verna LC herb liliaceae
English stonecrop Sedum anglicum LC herb crassulaceae
tree lungwort Lobaria pulmonaria LC lichen no common name
powdered orange bush lichen Teloschistes flavicans VU lichen no common name
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

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
Black-veined moth
Siona lineata
Critically Endangered Lotus corniculatus
New forest
Zygaena viciae
Critically Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Straw belle
Aspitates gilvaria
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Shoulder-striped clover
Heliothis maritima
Endangered Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Wood white
Leptidea sinapis
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Glanville fritillary
Melitaea cinxia
Endangered Plantago coronopus
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Rubus fruticosus, Rumex acetosa
Fiery clearwing
Pyropteron chrysidiformis
Endangered Rumex acetosa
Slender scotch
Zygaena loti
Endangered Lotus corniculatus
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus fruticosus, Rumex spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Lonicera periclymenum
Dingy skipper
Erynnis tages
Vulnerable Lotus corniculatus
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Lonicera periclymenum, 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.
White admiral
Limenitis camilla
Vulnerable Lonicera periclymenum
True lover's knot
Lycophotia porphyrea
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Rubus fruticosus
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Lotus corniculatus, Ulex spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Ulex europaeus
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Rubus fruticosus
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Rumex spp.
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Armeria maritima, Rumex spp.
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Plantago spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Rumex spp.
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Rumex spp.
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Grey scalloped
Dyscia fagaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
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.
Silver-spotted skipper
Hesperia comma
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Weaver's wave
Idaea contiguaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Holcus lanatus
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 7 species from the description above: Galium saxatile, Holcus lanatus, Lonicera periclymenum, Potentilla erecta, Pteridium aquilinum, Rumex acetosa, Ulex europaeus

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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 6 species from the description above: Armeria maritima, Holcus lanatus, Lonicera periclymenum, Pteridium aquilinum, Rumex acetosa, 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 4 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Festuca ovina, Galium saxatile, Rumex acetosa

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

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Holcus lanatus, Lonicera periclymenum, Pteridium aquilinum

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