| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 View from Western Brow over Westmeston bostal and beyond | |
| Location | East Sussex West Sussex |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | TQ 355 126[1] |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 422.5 hectares (1,044 acres)[1] |
| Notification | 1986[1] |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Clayton to Offham Escarpment is a 422.5-hectare (1,044-acre) linear biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which runs from Clayton in West Sussex to Lewes in East Sussex.[1][2] Its ownership and management is divided between over fifteen landowners and farmers. Parts of Ditchling's Downs, e.g. TQ 323 133, and the scarp between Blackcap and Mount Harry, e.g. TQ 378 124, are owned by the National Trust. What remains of Ditchling Tenantry Down common (24 hectares (59 acres)) at Ditchling Beacon is leased to the Sussex Wildlife Trust.[3]
Unlike the scarp top, the steeply sloping chalk grassland of the escarpment has been spared modern farming ploughing, fertilising and spraying of herbicides. Instead the area has been used for traditional low-level animal grazing and as a consequence the site is still pristine chalk grassland, which has created a ten kilometre stretch of wild flower meadows. Such areas have been described as Europe's tropical rainforests and the National Trust tell us, "They're home to an incredibly rich and diverse range of plant and insect life". Up to 40 species of flowering plants can be found in one square metre of chalk grassland.[4]
The particular character of this range of hills is their north facing aspect, meaning they can be shadowy and receive less sunlight. There is glaucous sedge, autumn gentian, marjoram and squinancywort. There are several species of wild, native orchid and the area is rich in mosses and liverworts. The botanical richness means it also supports biodiverse fauna. There are also areas of ancient woodland and ancient scrub and the site has a rich community of breeding birds, and a number of red listed bird species in the highest conservation concern category.[5]
- ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Clayton to Offham Escarpment". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Map of Clayton to Offham Escarpment". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Ditchling Beacon". Sussex Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "What's special about chalk grassland?". National Trust. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "Clayton to Offham Escarpment citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 11 January 2019.