Heyshott Down facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | West Sussex |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 42.6 hectares (105 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Heyshott Down is a very special natural area in West Sussex, England. It covers about 42.6 hectares (which is like 105 football fields!). This site is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a protected place because of its unique wildlife and natural features.
What Makes Heyshott Down Special?
Heyshott Down is located on the South Downs, which is a range of chalk hills. What makes this place truly unique is its "unimproved chalk grassland." This is a type of grassy area that grows on chalky soil. It's called "unimproved" because it hasn't been changed by farming or building. This kind of grassland is very rare in the UK.
Amazing Plants and Animals
The chalk grassland at Heyshott Down is full of different plants. It's especially important for tiny plants like mosses and liverworts. These are small, green plants that often grow in damp places. Some important types found here include Antitrichia curtipendula, Hylocomium brevirostre, and Rhytidiadelphus loreus.
This area is also a fantastic home for many different spiders and harvestmen. Harvestmen look a bit like spiders but are different creatures. Heyshott Down is one of only two places in all of Britain where a tiny spider called Tapinocyboides pygmaea has ever been found! This shows how important this site is for protecting rare species.
Visiting Heyshott Down
If you want to explore Heyshott Down, you can access it using public footpaths. These paths lead from nearby villages like Cocking and Heyshott. It's a great place to see rare plants and insects in their natural home.
