Kingston Escarpment and Iford Hill facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | East Sussex |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 63.4 hectares (157 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Kingston Escarpment and Iford Hill is a very special natural area in East Sussex, near the city of Brighton. It covers about 63.4 hectares, which is like 156 football fields! This amazing place is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because it's home to many rare and important plants and animals.
Contents
What Makes Kingston Escarpment and Iford Hill Special?
Kingston Escarpment and Iford Hill are two areas of land with steep, grassy slopes. These slopes are made of chalk, which creates a unique environment for nature. Because of this special chalky soil, many unusual and important creatures and plants can live here. It's like a natural treasure chest of biodiversity!
Amazing Animals You Can Find Here
This area is buzzing with life, especially tiny creatures called invertebrates. These are animals without backbones, like insects. Many of them are rare and need protection.
Beautiful Butterflies: Adonis Blue and Small Blue
You might spot some truly stunning butterflies fluttering around. The Adonis blue butterfly is famous for its bright, sky-blue wings, which are especially vibrant on the males. The small blue butterfly is also found here; it's one of the smallest butterflies in the UK. Both of these butterflies rely on specific plants that grow in chalk grasslands.
The Unique Wart-biter Grasshopper
One of the most important animals living here is the wart-biter grasshopper. This grasshopper is super rare in the UK and is specially protected. It's quite large for a grasshopper and gets its name from an old belief that its bite could cure warts! Finding this grasshopper shows just how important Kingston Escarpment and Iford Hill are for protecting endangered species.
Wonderful Wildflowers and Plants
The plant life, or flora, at Kingston Escarpment and Iford Hill is also incredibly diverse. The chalk grassland provides the perfect home for many beautiful wildflowers.
Special Chalk Grassland Plants
You can find plants like squinancywort, which has tiny pink flowers and grows low to the ground. Horseshoe vetch is another important plant here, with bright yellow flowers. It's a key food source for some of the rare butterflies. You might also spot eyebright, a small plant with delicate white or purple flowers. These plants are all adapted to grow in the chalky soil and are part of what makes this habitat so unique.
Why is This Place Protected?
Kingston Escarpment and Iford Hill was officially named a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1986. This means it's recognized as one of the best examples of its kind in the country. Protecting this area helps make sure that the rare animals and plants living here have a safe home for the future. It's important for everyone to respect these special places so that nature can continue to thrive.
Images for kids
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A memorial bench on Iford Hill, showing the beautiful landscape.
