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Special Areas of Conservation

Culm Grasslands

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Devon
Centroid* SS843214
Latitude 50.98
Longitude -3.647777778
SAC EU Code UK0012679
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 774.21
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Culm Grasslands SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (1%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (3.5%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (25%)
  • Dry grassland, Steppes (2.5%)
  • Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (60%)
  • Improved grassland (1%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (7%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • 6410 Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae)

    Culm Grasslands represents Molinia meadows in south-west England. This site contains extremely diverse examples of the heathy type of M24 Molinia caerulea – Cirsium dissectum fen-meadow, ranging from short, grazed swards through to stands that are transitional to scrub. Structural diversity accounts for the conservation of a wide range of flora and fauna, particularly of species characteristic of south-western Europe, such as meadow thistle Cirsium dissectum and whorled caraway Carum verticillatum.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • 1065 Marsh fritillary butterfly Euphydryas (Eurodryas, Hypodryas) aurinia

    Culm Grasslands in south-west England contains the largest cluster of sites for marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia in the south-west peninsula. It is judged to be the most important location for the species in its major south-west stronghold.

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

  • Not Applicable

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.