Deb's Web

This is a military training area and, when the red flags are flying, access is restricted.

Browndown SSSI, or Browndown Ranges, situated just east of Lee-on-the-Solent, on the north shore of the Solent, in Hampshire (opposite the Isle of Wight). I have enjoyed many happy hours on the Ranges, either just walking, doing conservation work or recording the varied flora on the site. There are car parks at both the west and eastern ends of the Browndown Ranges site.

The variety of habitats contained within the whole site make it possible to find a number of plants which are are more frequently found in either the New Forest, or on the heaths of north-east Hampshire.

Browndown Ranges is a SSSI site with plenty to interest the nature-lover. This area consists largely of consolidated shingle, which carries its own unique type of coastal heathland. Along the southern edge of the site is a loose shingle beach, behind which is a mosaic of loose and stable shingle interspersed with areas of heathland, acid grassland, brackish hollows and depressions, rough grassland, scrub and trees.

Along the northern edge is an embankment, or low cliff, which marks where the sea used to reach, this south facing bank is mostly covered with scrub and trees, but does have a couple of barish areas which are very good for insects. The plateau at the top of the bank is not part of the SSSI but still has interesting plants, such as Heath Dog-violet (Viola canina subsp. canina) (pic below), this part is mostly mown turf toward the east end, with gorse/bramble scrub at the west.

There is a rich fauna to be seen on the site, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and huge number of insects, with some scarce and rare species. If you are careful and/or lucky you may get a good look at some of them. Below I have illustrated a few species, which I managed to photograph on the ranges one sunny September day. Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas); Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), adult male; and Lesser Cockroach (Ectobius panzeri), adult female;
photographs taken on 20th September 2008:

Cladonia portentosa Small Copper Common Darter (m) Lesser Cockroach (f)

South of the cliff is Browndown SSSI's unique coastal heathland interspersed with a mosaic of acid grassland and gorse scrub. The areas of heathland are a mixture of Heather/Ling (Calluna vulgaris), Dwarf Gorse (Ulex minor), Bell Heather (Erica cinerea), Bristle Bent (Agrostis curtisii) and Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue (Festuca filiformis). The acid grassland has Red Fescue (Festuca rubra) and Common Bent (Agrostis capillaris) with Field Wood-rush (Luzula campestris), Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Pilosella officinarum), Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and Pearlwort (Sagina spp.) (among others). There are also large numbers of lichens, with 16 species of Cladonia (image above), some of them being quite local in distribution (Brewis, et al 1996).

The shrubs are mainly Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Heather (Calluna vulgaris), Bell Heather (Erica cinerea), Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), and Bramble (Rubus agg.). The image on the left shows Common Gorse parasitized by Common Dodder (Cuscuta epithymum) (click image for enlargement). The trees are mostly Grey Willow (Salix cinerea) and Common or Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur). The commoner herbaceous plants, include Wood Sage (Teucrium scorodonia), Thrift (Armeria maritima), English Stonecrop (Sedum anglicum), Nottingham Catchfly (Silene nutans), Sheep's Sorrel (Rumex acetosella), Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Pilosella officinarum), Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) and Sea Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. maritumum). The grasses are mostly Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue (Festuca filiformis), Common Bent (Agrostis capillaris), Bristle Bent (Agrostis curtisii), and Yorkshire Fog (Holcus lanatus). There are many lichens and mosses, with more than a dozen species of Cladonia on the site. The Heather and gorse mosaic in such close proximity to the sea (The Solent) coupled with the often sparsely vegetated shingle areas, and fairly frequent patches of moss and lichens is what gives it it's unique character.

A heathland can be a difficult place to exist, and the plants that grow there are often either 'specialists', or opportunistic annuals that can survive harsh conditions. Browndown SSSI and its proximity to the sea, has a great influence on what can grow there, and also how it grows. The native Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur) tends to be strangely stunted to the east of the central heathland area, and the invading alien Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) has normal, and larger proportions, except when very close to the sea.

A few of the many other plants include:-
Hop Trefoil (Trifolium campestre), Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara var. dulcamara) - the 'normal' variety as well as the coastal variety (var. marinum), the many-prickled Burnet Rose (Rosa spinosissima / R. pimpinellifolia), the Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and the striking Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare) with its blue flowers contrasting well with the buds which are pink. Browndown SSSI is the Hampshire stronghold of Nottingham Catchfly and probably the national stronghold for the British population of Maritime Little Robert (Geranium purpureum subsp. forsteri)'**.

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