Black Down and Sampford Commons

Infobox SSSI


name=Black Down and Sampford Commons
aos=Somerset and Devon
interest=Biological
gridref=gbmappingsmall|ST118161
area=155.2 hectares (383.5 acres)
notifydate=1952

http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?
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Black Down and Sampford Commons (gbmapping|ST118161) is a 383.5 hectare (155.2 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Devon and Somerset, notified in 1952.The Little Breach reserve, which forms part of the SSSI is an area of heathy grassland on Greensand, with some blackthorn and birch, noted for its butterflies and moths. [cite web | title=Little Breach, Blackdown Hills | work=Butterfly conservation | url=http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/reserves/little_breach/index.html | accessdate=2006-08-12]

Blackdown and Sampford Commons have the finest and most extensive surviving examples of the heathland, carr woodland and marshy grassland habitats that have developed on the acidic soils overlying the Greensand and Keuper Marls of the Blackdown Hills. The heathland supports a typical invertebrate fauna, including a wide variety of butterfly species, and with spiders notably abundant. The site is regionally important for birds which favour heathland habitats. [cite web | title=Black Down and Sampford Commons | work=English Nature | url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003750.pdf | accessdate=2006-08-12]

References