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Special Areas of Conservation

South Dartmoor Woods

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Devon
Centroid* SX710701
Latitude 50.51666667
Longitude -3.819166667
SAC EU Code UK0012749
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 2159.06
* 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 South Dartmoor Woods SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (2%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (2%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (17%)
  • Dry grassland, Steppes (9%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (67%)
  • Coniferous woodland (3%)

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

  • 91A0 Old sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles

    This complex is the most southerly of the sites selected and is representative of old sessile oak woods in south-west England, with regionally important assemblages of lower plants and dry Lobarion communities that are unique in Western Europe. The woods are notable for the variations in stand type that reflect past management (old coppice and high forest) and also include grazed and ungrazed areas. The woodland is part of a complex mosaic that includes heathland and species associated with open ground, such as the high brown fritillary Argynnis adippe and pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly Boloria euphrosyne. Variations also arise due to geology, resulting in the presence of small-leaved lime Tilia cordata, ash Fraxinus excelsior, wild service tree Sorbus torminalis, and small areas of wet woodland dominated by alder Alnus glutinosa and willow Salix spp.

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

  • Not Applicable

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.