Hackhurst and White Downs

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.2339, -0.3845

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (3) Favourable (14)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TQ090486 Unfavourable Recovering 4.17 2013-10-07
TQ095486 Unfavourable Recovering 26.64 2013-08-30
TQ097484 Favourable 16.19 2013-06-12
TQ100485 Favourable 16.19 2013-06-12
TQ103488 Favourable 16.19 2013-06-12
TQ105486 Favourable 29.41 2014-06-09
TQ112488 Favourable 16.19 2013-06-12
TQ120490 Favourable 12.21 2015-07-14
TQ121494 Favourable 40.84 2014-06-09
TQ125495 Unfavourable Recovering 12.23 2013-09-27
TQ131498 Favourable 2.69 2013-06-12
TQ136499 Favourable 27.63 2013-10-07
TQ142500 Favourable 13.12 2013-06-12
TQ144500 Favourable 27.63 2013-10-07
TQ147501 Favourable 13.12 2013-06-12
TQ148500 Favourable 27.63 2013-10-07
TQ151500 Favourable 13.12 2013-06-12

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Description The Hackhurst and White Downs site includes part of the North Downs escarpment west of Dorking. Most of the site is on the steeply sloping Upper and Middle chalk but some small areas overlying the Netley Heath Beds of the Clay with Flints plateau are included. The chalk slopes are mostly south facing and they are covered by a mosaic of grassland, scrub and secondary woodland habitats. Variations in grazing pressure have created a graduation of grassland types from areas dominated by upright brome Bromus erectus and tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum to areas of close cropped sheep's fescue Festuca ovina. Typical chalk grassland herbs, such as squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, felwort Gentianella amarella, bee orchid Ophrys apifera, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis are well represented. Rarer species include horse shoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa, autumn lady's tresses Spiranthes spiralis, fly orchid Ophrys insectifera and the nationally uncommon burnt Neotinea ustulata and man Orchis anthorpophora orchids. Stands of scrub are variable both in density and composition and most of the southern calcareous types are well represented. Common species include hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, dogwood Cornus sanguinea, silver birch Betula pendula, blackthorn Prunus spinosa, yew Taxus baccata and spindle Euonymus europaeus. Hackhurst Down supports the only sizeable population of juniper Juniperus communis remaining on the North Downs which supports thirteen invertebrates reliant on this species. There are also some small areas on the Netley Heath Beds where gorse Ulex europaeus dominates the scrub. The woodland stands on the chalk escarpment range from young ash Fraxinus excelsior to mature beech Fagus sylvatica woodland. Yew is common within these stands and whitebeam Sorbus aria, field maple Acer campestre, traveller's joy Clematis vitalba and wild privet Ligustrum vulgare are also widespread. Where the canopy is fairly open a rich ground flora of dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, ivy Hedera helix, false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum, lords and ladies Arum maculatum and violets Viola spp. can be found. Less common woodland species include white helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium, bird's nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis, yellow bird's nest Hypopitys monotropa and greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha. Woodland on the Netley Heath Beds is dominated by pedunculate oak Quercus robur and ash, over a shrub layer of hazel Corylus avellana coppice and a ground flora of bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta, brambles Rubus fruticosus and bracken Pteridium aquilinum. The invertebrate fauna of the chalk escarpment is extremely rich; forty species of butterfly have been recorded and there are good colonies of locally uncommon species such as Adonis blue Polyommatus bellargus, chalkhill blue L. coridon, brown hairstreak Thecla betulae, Duke of Burgundy fritillary Hamearis lucina, marbled white Melanargia galathea and silver spotted skipper Hesperia comma. Other notable invertebrates include the juniper specific bug Cyphostethus tristriatus, the rare flies Gymnosoma rotundatum and Microdon devius, four rare beetles Coleoptera and Centromerus albidus, a spider known from only two other locations in Britain. * 'A Nature Conservation Review', D A Ratcliffe 1977, Cambridge.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
juniper shield bug Cyphostethus tristriatus LC bug acanthosomatidae
Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina VU butterfly riodinidae
silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma VU butterfly hesperiidae
marbled white Melanargia galathea LC butterfly nymphalidae
Adonis blue Polyommatus bellargus VU butterfly lycaenidae
brown hairstreak Thecla betulae VU butterfly lycaenidae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
fly Gymnosoma rotundatum Not listed in GB list fly tachinidae
fly Microdon devius NT fly syrphidae
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
pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis LC herb orchidaceae
lords and ladies Arum maculatum LC herb araceae
squinancywort Asperula cynanchica VU herb rubiaceae
yellowwort Blackstonia perfoliata LC herb gentianaceae
white helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium LC herb orchidaceae
autumn gentian Gentianella amarella LC herb gentianaceae
fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea NT herb orchidaceae
horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa VU herb fabaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
yellow birds nest Hypopitys monotropa DD herb monotropaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
burnt orchid Neotinea ustulata EN herb orchidaceae
birdsnest orchid Neottia nidus-avis VU herb orchidaceae
bee orchid Ophrys apifera LC herb orchidaceae
fly orchid Ophrys insectifera VU herb orchidaceae
man orchid Orchis anthorpophora Not listed in GB list herb orchidaceae
greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha NT herb orchidaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
autumn lady's tresses Spiranthes spiralis LC herb orchidaceae
traveller's joy Clematis vitalba LC shrub ranunculaceae
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
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
gorse Ulex europaeus LC shrub leguminosae
spider Centromerus albidus CR(PE) spider linyphiidae
field maple Acer campestre LC tree aceraceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
whitebeams Sorbus aria CR tree rosaceae
yew Taxus baccata LC tree taxaceae
ivy Hedera helix LC woody climber araliaceae

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
Chequered skipper
Carterocephalus palaemon
Endangered Brachypodium sylvaticum
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Maple pug
Eupithecia inturbata
Endangered Acer campestre
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Black hairstreak
Satyrium pruni
Endangered Prunus spinosa
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus fruticosus
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Acer campestre, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Dingy skipper
Erynnis tages
Vulnerable Hippocrepis comosa
Juniper pug
Eupithecia pusillata
Vulnerable Juniperus communis, Juniperus spp.
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Brachypodium sylvaticum, Festuca ovina
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Hippocrepis comosa, Ulex spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Rubus fruticosus
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., Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Betula spp., 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 Prunus spinosa, Pteridium aquilinum
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Betula pendula
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Betula spp., Festuca ovina, Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Silver-spotted skipper
Hesperia comma
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
Wall
Lasiommata megera
Near Threatened Brachypodium sylvaticum
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa
Near Threatened Festuca ovina
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 21 species from the description above: Arum maculatum, Betula pendula, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Clematis vitalba, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Euonymus europaeus, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Hedera helix, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Mercurialis perennis, Prunus spinosa, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Sorbus aria, 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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 11 species from the description above: Arum maculatum, Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Hedera helix, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, 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 9 species from the description above: Acer campestre, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Corylus avellana, Hedera helix, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, 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 1 species from the description above: Festuca ovina

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