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Special Areas of Conservation

Rook Clift

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Surrey, East and West Sussex
Centroid* SU820182
Latitude 50.95694444
Longitude -0.832777778
SAC EU Code UK0030058
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 10.62
* 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 Rook Clift SAC

General site character

  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (100%)

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

  • 9180 Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines  * Priority feature

    Rook Clift is the largest known remnant stand of Tilio-Acerion forests dominated by large-leaved lime Tilia platyphyllos in the south of England. It lies on the deeper soils towards the base of the slope and valley bottom of a small wooded combe, which gives the site its humid microclimate. The soils are rather deeper and there is less exposed rock at this site because the chalk is more readily weathered than the limestones on which many of the other sites lie. Despite this, the vegetation is otherwise typical of the habitat type, with an abundance of ferns such as hart’s-tongue Phyllitis scolopendrium and shield-fern Polystichum spp. In addition to species more common in the west of Britain, continental species such as Italian lords-and-ladies Arum italicum also occur.

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.