Treyford to Bepton Down

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.9531, -0.8138

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Declining (8)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SU828178 Unfavourable Declining 25.58 2023-06-28
SU837177 Unfavourable Declining 43.1 2024-03-22
SU850174 Unfavourable Declining 38.77 2024-03-22
SU855174 Unfavourable Declining 38.77 2024-03-22
SU858170 Unfavourable Declining 38.77 2024-03-22
SU858172 Unfavourable Declining 38.77 2024-03-22
SU859174 Unfavourable Declining 14.06 2023-06-28
SU864170 Unfavourable Declining 38.77 2024-03-22

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Description The escarpment from Treyford to Bepton Down contains representative examples of unimproved chalk grassland and yew woodland developed on the Upper, Middle and Lower Chalk of the western South Downs. Both of these habitats are rare nationally, the area of unimproved chalk grassland in particular has declined dramatically over the last few decades. Several particularly rare and uncommon mollusc species snails are also present. The site comprises three separate blocks along the north scarp slope with additional areas in Stead Combe – an east facing dry valley. The semi natural chalk grassland, chalk scrub and ash beech yew woodlands have been fragmented and altered by the extensive planting of conifers along the escarpment. Species rich unimproved chalk grassland dominated by sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina and upright brome Bromus erectus occurs throughout, with herbs such as round headed rampion Phyteuma orbiculare, horshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa and carline thistle Carlina vulgaris. Several species of orchid are present including frog Dactylorhiza viridis, bee Ophrys apifera and musk orchids Herminium monorchis. Chalk bryophytes, mosses, are well represented and in addition Racomitrium lanuginosum has been recorded. This moss is rare in the south east and reflects the 'oceanic' nature of this north facing ridge. In ungrazed swards tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum becomes dominant thus reducing diversity and in semi improved areas Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus grows with it. However, herbs such as salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria and yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor still persist. hawthorn Crataegus monogyna scrub is now invading much of the ungrazed grassland, while a more diverse mixed scrub community with hazel Corylus avellana and guelder rose Viburnum opulus is established in other areas. Mature mixed woodland with yew Taxus baccata, beech Fagus sylvatica and ash Fraxinus excelsior clothes the lower slopes and Stead Combe. In all but the most shaded areas there is a dense ground cover of dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum. Bird’s nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis is also present. Ash dominated woodland tends to be more open with a diverse associated scrub layer and rides containing chalk grassland plants such as marjoram Origanum vulgare and yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
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
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus LC grass poaceae
yellowwort Blackstonia perfoliata LC herb gentianaceae
carline thistle Carlina vulgaris LC herb asteraceae
frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis VU herb orchidaceae
musk orchid Herminium monorchis EN herb orchidaceae
horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa VU herb fabaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
birdsnest orchid Neottia nidus-avis VU herb orchidaceae
bee orchid Ophrys apifera LC herb orchidaceae
wild marjoram Origanum vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
round headed rampion Phyteuma orbiculare LC herb campanulaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor DD herb orobanchaceae
small scabious Scabiosa columbaria LC herb caprifoliaceae
wooly fringe moss Racomitrium lanuginosum LC moss grimmiales
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
gelder rose Viburnum opulus LC shrub caprifoliaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
yew Taxus baccata LC tree taxaceae

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
Chequered skipper
Carterocephalus palaemon
Endangered Brachypodium sylvaticum
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Poterium sanguisorba
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica
Dingy skipper
Erynnis tages
Vulnerable Hippocrepis comosa
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Scabiosa columbaria
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Rhinanthus minor
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Brachypodium sylvaticum, Festuca ovina
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Hippocrepis comosa
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Poterium sanguisorba
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
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened 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
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
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Brachypodium sylvaticum, Holcus lanatus
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened 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 11 species from the description above: Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Holcus lanatus, Mercurialis perennis, Origanum vulgare, Poterium sanguisorba, Taxus baccata

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

W13 — Yew wood

Taxus baccata woodland

Matches 6 species from the description above: Brachypodium sylvaticum, Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Mercurialis perennis, Taxus baccata

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Buxus sempervirens, Sambucus nigra, Euonymus europaeus, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Crataegus monogyna, Mnium hornum, Fissidens viridulus, Brachythecium velutinum, Ctenidium molluscum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhynchostegium murale, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Tamus communis, Arum maculatum, Eupatorium cannabinum, Inula conyza, Mercurialis perennis, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Fragaria vesca, Rubus fruticosus agg., Atropa belladonna, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Brachypodium sylvaticum

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 4 species from the description above: Dactylorhiza viridis, Festuca ovina, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Rhinanthus minor

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 4 species from the description above: Brachypodium sylvaticum, Corylus avellana, Holcus lanatus, Mercurialis perennis

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