Mappp.co - Coates Castle

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West Sussex County SOUTH DOWNS National Park

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (2) Favourable (1)

Unit	Feature	Condition	Area (ha)	Assessed
SU989171	—	Unfavourable Recovering	0.84	2010-03-31
SU989176	—	Favourable	4.77	2008-08-28
SU993166	—	Unfavourable Recovering	2.11	2008-08-28

Habitats

Bracken scrub, Mixed scrub, Montane scrub

Description

Description Coates Castle SSSI consists of three blocks of land all within a one kilometre radius which contains the entire known remaining British population of the field cricket Gryllus campestris, an insect protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The field cricket has never been widespread and was always restricted to the southern half of the British Isles but gradual loss of suitable habitat through natural and human influences have drastically reduced the national population to an estimated size of less than 200 individuals. Field crickets have been found in the recent past at nearby sites, including part of the Arundel Park SSSI, but survey information suggests that it is now extinct from these sites. Probably the main threat to this nationally rare and endangered+ insect is a loss of the conditions suitable for continuation of its annual life cycle; in particular the requirement for a warm, dry microclimate. The microclimate is strongly influenced by both general climatic factors and local effects such as shading from bracken or trees. The first, northernmost, block of land forms part of the environs of Coates Castle, originally landscaped as a radiating set of 'lawns' to provide vistas from the property. Freely draining very acid sandy soils have favoured the development of an acidic grassland with wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa and red fescue Festuca rubra forming a short, patchy sward. This short sward is the habitat used by the field cricket and requires regular mowing to prevent bracken Pteridium aquilinum and scrub encroachment from the surrounding woodland. There are extensive areas of heather Calluna vulgaris in parts of the site. Patches of bracken and seedling trees, such as silver birch Betula pendula and Scot's pine Pinus sylvestris indicate the woodland habitat that would develop if regular vegetation cutting were not continued. The second block of land consists of an area of developing conifer plantation woodland with a track running roughly east to west. The soil is similarly free draining with a patchy cover of red fescue. Here too, regular cutting is required to maintain a patchy sward. The third, southernmost, block of land is an area recently converted to grassland from woodland. The land slopes down towards the western boundary and there are differences in vegetation types between the northern and southern ends. The southern end and side of the slope is covered by an almost continuous sward of common bent grass Agrostis capillaris with few herbs and some bracken encroachment. The northern section is patchily vegetated by grasses such as common bent grass, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and early hair grass Aira praecox with herbs such as sheep sorrel Rumex acetosella and buck’s horn plantain Plantago coronopus, areas of stony disturbed soil favour invasion by bracken and birch seedlings. Note + 'endangered' is the category of threat under which field cricket is noted in the British Red Data Book for Insects Vol 2, ed. D B Shirt, I C C 1987

Species mentioned

Show the 12 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status

English name search for this in other sites	Latin name search with Google	IUCN / Red List	Type	Family
field cricket	Gryllus campestris	VU	bush cricket	gryllidae
bracken	Pteridium aquilinum	LC	fern	dennstaedtiaceae
common bent	Agrostis capillaris	LC	grass	poaceae
early hair grass	Aira praecox	VU	grass	poaceae
wavy hair grass	Deschampsia flexuosa	Not listed in GB list	grass	poaceae
red fescue	Festuca rubra	LC	grass	poaceae
Yorkshire fog	Holcus lanatus	LC	grass	poaceae
buck's-horn plantain	Plantago coronopus	LC	herb	plantaginaceae
sheep's sorrel	Rumex acetosella	NT	herb	polygonaceae
bell heather or ling	Calluna vulgaris	NT	shrub dwarf	ericaceae
birch	Betula pendula	LC	tree	betulaceae
Scot's pine	Pinus sylvestris	LC	tree	pinaceae

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.

Species	Status	Via host-plant
Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima	Endangered	Calluna vulgaris
Glanville fritillary Melitaea cinxia	Endangered	Plantago coronopus
Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens	Endangered	Betula spp.
Fiery clearwing Pyropteron chrysidiformis	Endangered	Rumex acetosella
The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx	Vulnerable	Betula spp.
Broom moth Ceramica pisi	Vulnerable	Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Pinus spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Rumex spp.
Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria	Vulnerable	Betula spp.
Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia	Vulnerable	Plantago spp.
Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris
Garden dart Euxoa nigricans	Vulnerable	Plantago spp., Rumex spp.
Grayling Hipparchia semele	Vulnerable	Aira praecox, Festuca rubra
True lover's knot Lycophotia porphyrea	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris
The lackey Malacosoma neustria	Vulnerable	Betula pendula
Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria	Vulnerable	Betula pendula
Silver studded blue Plebejus argus	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris
Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi	Vulnerable	Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris
Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria	Vulnerable	Betula pendula
Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola	Near Threatened	Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris
Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis	Near Threatened	Rumex spp.
Grey chi Antitype chi	Near Threatened	Rumex spp.
Garden tiger Arctia caja	Near Threatened	Pinus sylvestris, Plantago spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Rumex spp.
The sallow Cirrhia icteritia	Near Threatened	Rumex spp.
Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus	Near Threatened	Agrostis spp., Festuca spp.
Pine-tree lappet Dendrolimus pini	Near Threatened	Pinus sylvestris
Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria	Near Threatened	Calluna vulgaris
Kentish glory Endromis versicolora	Near Threatened	Betula pendula
Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria	Near Threatened	Betula spp.
September thorn Ennomos erosaria	Near Threatened	Betula spp.
Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa	Near Threatened	Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Plantago spp., Rumex spp.
Double dart Graphiphora augur	Near Threatened	Betula spp.
Weaver's wave Idaea contiguaria	Near Threatened	Calluna vulgaris
Wall Lasiommata megera	Near Threatened	Agrostis spp., Holcus lanatus
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata	Near Threatened	Rumex spp.
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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 4 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Calluna vulgaris, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra

Show 107 indicator species

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: Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Pteridium aquilinum

Show 49 indicator species

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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 4 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Pteridium aquilinum

Show 53 indicator species

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

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Betula pendula, Holcus lanatus, Pteridium aquilinum

Show 81 indicator species

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