Wilmington Downs
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationEast Sussex
Grid referenceTQ 544 030[1]
InterestBiological
Area209.8 hectares (518 acres)[1]
Notification1986[1]
Location mapMagic Map

Wilmington Downs is a 209.8-hectare (518-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest north-west of Eastbourne in East Sussex.[1][2] The site includes a Scheduled Monument, the Long Man of Wilmington, a turf cut figure which may be of prehistoric origin.[3]

This site is mainly chalk grassland on the steep slope of the South Downs. It is important for invertebrates, including two protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, the wart-biter grasshopper and the snail Monacha cartusiana. There are also several unusual species of lichens and mosses.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Wilmington Downs". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Map of Wilmington Downs". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  3. ^ Historic England. "A turf-cut hill figure known as The Long Man of Wilmington, 914m south-east of Acorn Barn (1002293)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Wilmington Downs citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
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50°48′22″N 0°11′24″E / 50.806°N 0.190°E / 50.806; 0.190

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