Cissbury Ring

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.8591, -0.3742

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (3) Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TQ139079 Unfavourable Recovering 33.62 2022-03-30
TQ143082 Favourable 16.16 2009-11-09
TQ148079 Unfavourable Recovering 9.4 2014-01-03
TQ152074 Unfavourable Recovering 25.01 2013-06-24

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk, Flint

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
redstart Breeding
redstart Passage
whinchat Breeding
whinchat Passage

Description

Description Cissbury Ring is an ancient hill fort site situated on chalk. The main biological interest of the site centres on the areas of unimproved chalk grassland, a habitat type which has become rare nationally through being under constant threat from agricultural improvement. The scrub areas provide important habitats for wintering, breeding and migrant birds and also support a varied butterfly fauna. Unimproved chalk grassland occupies the steep slopes which encircle the central plateau, the area round the old flint mines and the southern most field. Upright brome Bromus erectus forms a compact turf in which kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, horse shoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and yarrow Achillea millefolium are abundant; other components in the sward include harebell Campanula rotundifolia, marjoram Origanum vulgare, field fleawort Senecio integrifolius, wild basil Clinopodium vulgare, heath bedstraw Galium saxatile and the frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis. The belt of scrub along the north east facing scarp slope consists of a diversity of shrub species including hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, privet Ligustrum vulgare, dogwood Cornus sanguinea and spindle Euonymus europaeus. Elsewhere, scrub invasion is more scattered particularly in the area occupied by the old flint mines. There are several juniper bushes Juniperus communis to the north of the Ring. The main plain of the Cissbury Ring is situated on clay soils overlying the chalk. Here neutral grassland is dominated by Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, sheep's fescue Festuca ovina and creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera grasses with wood sage Teucrium scorodonia and bramble Rubus fruticosus. Among the butterflies occurring here are the Adonis blue Polyommatus bellargus, the chalkhill blue L. coridon and the brown argus Aricia agestis. The scrub along the escarpment supports a diverse breeding bird community notably of warblers and finches. The autumn passage is particularly important when the scrub is used by redstart, whinchat, stonechats, tree pipits and warblers. Over wintering numbers of thrushes and finches are significant and a range of birds of prey is regularly recorded.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus LC (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
whinchat Saxicola rubetra NT (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
brown argus Aricia agestis LC butterfly lycaenidae
Adonis blue Polyommatus bellargus VU butterfly lycaenidae
creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera LC grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus LC grass poaceae
yarrow Achillea millefolium LC herb asteraceae
lady's fingers (kidney vetch) Anthyllis vulneraria NT herb fabaceae
harebell Campanula rotundifolia LC herb campanulaceae
wild basil Clinopodium vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis VU herb orchidaceae
heath bedstraw Galium saxatile LC herb rubiaceae
horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa VU herb fabaceae
wild marjoram Origanum vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
field fleawort Senecio integrifolius Not listed in GB list herb asteraceae
wood sage Teucrium scorodonia LC herb lamiaceae
dogwood Cornus sanguinea LC shrub cornaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
spindle tree Euonymus europaeus LC shrub celastraceae
juniper Juniperus communis CR shrub cupressaceae
wild privet Ligustrum vulgare LC shrub 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
Black-veined moth
Siona lineata
Critically Endangered Origanum vulgare
Straw belle
Aspitates gilvaria
Endangered Achillea millefolium
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna
Heath fritillary
Melitaea athalia
Endangered Achillea millefolium, Teucrium scorodonia
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Crataegus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Rubus fruticosus
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
Dingy skipper
Erynnis tages
Vulnerable Hippocrepis comosa
Juniper pug
Eupithecia pusillata
Vulnerable Juniperus communis, Juniperus spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Galium spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Festuca ovina
Bedstraw hawk-moth
Hyles gallii
Vulnerable Galium spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Rubus fruticosus
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus monogyna
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Hippocrepis comosa
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Rubus fruticosus
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna, Rubus fruticosus
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
No common name
Chrysolina marginata
Near Threatened Achillea millefolium
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Agrostis spp., Festuca spp.
Small blue
Cupido minimus
Near Threatened Anthyllis vulneraria
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Crataegus spp.
The Silurian
Eriopygodes imbecilla
Near Threatened Galium saxatile
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina, Galium spp.
Tawny speckled
Eupithecia icterata
Near Threatened Achillea millefolium
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Achillea millefolium, Crataegus monogyna
Bordered pug
Eupithecia succenturiata
Near Threatened Achillea millefolium
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus spp.
Silver-spotted skipper
Hesperia comma
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Agrostis spp., Holcus lanatus
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
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

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 8 species from the description above: Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus monogyna, Euonymus europaeus, Holcus lanatus, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Origanum vulgare, Teucrium scorodonia

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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 4 species from the description above: Campanula rotundifolia, Dactylorhiza viridis, Festuca ovina, Galium saxatile

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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Achillea millefolium, Holcus lanatus, Teucrium scorodonia

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