Kelling Heath

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.9330, 1.1258

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1) Unfavourable No Change (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TG101416 Unfavourable Recovering 53.7 2022-12-08
TG102421 Unfavourable No Change 35.72 2022-12-08

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Glacial

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
hen harrier Breeding
hen harrier Roosting
hen harrier Wintering
nightingale Breeding
nightingale Roosting
nightjar Breeding
nightjar Roosting
whitethroat Breeding
whitethroat Roosting

Description

Area, 88.2 hectares 217.9 ac Description Kelling Heath, together with Salthouse Heath, are two distinct outwash plains dating from different halt stages of the same glaciation. Kelling Heath provides perhaps the best example of a glacial outwash plain in England. Both sites have steep ice contact slopes and are dissected by deep dry valleys and are geomorphological sites of national importance. Afine example of oceanic heathland has developed on the sands and gravels. The site is crossed by a railway line whose embankments support a heathland community. A wide variety of heathland birds nest on the site, which also provides a good reptile habitat. The extensive areas of dry, acid heathland are dominated by heather Calluna vulgaris with frequent bell heather Erica cinerea and western gorse Ulex gallii. Small areas of acidic grassland, with wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa, form a mosaic with the heath in two places. Bracken Pteridium aquilinum is dominant on the steep slopes and gorse Ulex europaeus is locally abundant on the northern part of the site. Young silver birch Betula pendula and Scot's pine Pinus sylvestris are thinly scattered over the entire heath. Numerous paths cross the heath and the flora of these includes the introduced pirri pirri Bur Acaena anserinifolia. A band of secondary woodland, dominated by pedunculate oak Quercus robur, is present along a steep escarpment at the eastern margin of the site. Small areas of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and blackthorn Prunus spinosa scrub are also present. Nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus breed on the site and other typical heathland species include whitethroat Sylvia communis, nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos and linnet Carduelis cannabina. The heath supports a hen harrier Circus cyaneus roost in winter. Reptiles favour the warm, dry conditions present on the heath and common lizards Lacerta agilis and Aaders Vipera berus are abundant. There is an ancient ‘flaking’ site on the heath.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites
Latin name
search with Google
IUCN / Red List Type Family
linnet Linaria cannabina EN (Breeding) bird fringillidae
linnet Carduelis cannabina Not listed in GB list bird-finch fringillidae
hen harrier Circus cyaneus VU (Breeding) bird-hawk falconidae
nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus LC (Breeding) bird-nightjar caprimulgidae
nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos VU (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
whitethroat Sylvia communis Not listed in GB list bird-warbler sylviidae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
bronze pirri pirri bur Acaena anserinifolia Not listed in GB list herb rosaceae
sand lizard Lacerta agilis EN reptile lacertidae
adder Vipera berus NT reptile viveridae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
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
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
Scot's pine Pinus sylvestris LC tree pinaceae
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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Shoulder-striped clover
Heliothis maritima
Endangered Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Black hairstreak
Satyrium pruni
Endangered Prunus spinosa
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Pinus spp., Pteridium aquilinum
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris
True lover's knot
Lycophotia porphyrea
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Ulex spp.
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Ulex europaeus
Brown hairstreak
Thecla betulae
Vulnerable Prunus spinosa
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna, Erica cinerea, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Pinus sylvestris, Prunus spinosa, Pteridium aquilinum
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Pine-tree lappet
Dendrolimus pini
Near Threatened Pinus sylvestris
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Grey scalloped
Dyscia fagaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Betula pendula
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Quercus spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Weaver's wave
Idaea contiguaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris
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
White prominent
Leucodonta bicoloria
Regionally Extinct Betula 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

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 5 species from the description above: Betula pendula, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur

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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 5 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, 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 3 species from the description above: Prunus spinosa, Pteridium aquilinum, 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 2 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Deschampsia flexuosa

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