Lewes Downs
| Country | England |
| Unitary Authority | Surrey, East and West Sussex |
| Centroid* | TQ441093 |
| Latitude | 50.86472222 |
| Longitude | 0.0475 |
| SAC EU Code | UK0012832 |
| Status | Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) |
| Area (ha) | 146 |
| * 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. | |
General site character
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Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (5%)
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Dry grassland, Steppes (85%)
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Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (5%)
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Improved grassland (5%)
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
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This site hosts the priority habitat type "orchid rich sites". This chalk grassland site consists largely of CG2 Festuca ovina – Avenula pratensis and CG3 Bromus erectus calcareous grasslands. This site contains an important assemblage of rare and scarce orchids, including early spider-orchid Ophrys sphegodes, burnt orchid Orchis ustulata and musk orchid Herminium monorchis. The colony of burnt orchid is one of the largest in the UK.
Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site
- Not Applicable
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.