Note the secret code in this cache and find others to earn yourself a geocoin as part of The South Downs GeoTour. Record the codes in the #SDGeoTour passport, downloadable from our website or at SDGT Visitors Welcome.
ABOUT THE SITE
Heyshott common is owned by The Cowdray Estate and managed by The South Downs National Park Authority
Designations: SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), Open Access Site
NATURE & WILDLIFE
- Heyshot Common is one of the few places in West Sussex where the bog pimpernel grows. It is a delicate plant that forms a low growing mat on damp or boggy areas of wet heath.
- Early in the morning in summer you may catch a glimpse of one of our rarest reptiles, the sand lizard. They seek out patches of bare sand, often on the path, for basking and incubation of their eggs. The male has vivid emerald green on his sides and belly during courtship.
- The heathland is home to many rare invertebrates including the endangered robber fly. This adult has poisonous saliva that will kill other insects and bees within 2 seconds. The robber fly then sucks out the juices from its prey!
HISTORY
Several tumuli can be found on Heyshott common, mostly from the Bronze Age.
Canadian troops were based here before the D-Day landing. They practiced their manoeuvres here, have a look around and you might find an old pill box, that was built for their training. There was also a big spotlight based on one of the hills to search for enemy aircraft.
HEATHLAND
Heathlands occur on infertile land with thin acidic soils. The soils are usually sandy and therefore free-draining so they do not hold water for long. Heaths are often subject to summer droughts. Fires are a constant hazard, particularly as much of the vegetation is very resinous adding to the fire risk.
Heathlands are a man-made habitat, created thousands of years ago by our ancestors to provide firewood, craft materials and grazing for livestock. They are very vulnerable to rapid loss and degradation, especially through neglect. Birch and Scot’s Pine seedlings soon take over and turn areas into woodland because they shade out the underlying heath vegetation.
The wide open landscape is dominated by heather, gorse and grasses which provide a superb habitat for invertebrates (over 5000), ground nesting birds and all six native reptiles. Many internationally rare species can be found on heathland.
95% of lowland heaths have been lost globally. 1,544 ha of lowland heathland can be found in the National Park which represents an important international resource.
PERMISSIONS
Cache placed with kind permission from the South Downs National Park Authority.