Up to 40 species of flowering plants can be found in one square metre of chalk grassland – also called lowland calcareous grassland. Many species grow nowhere else, including many beautiful orchids and wildflowers. In turn, they attract many insects and rare butterflies such as the Adonis Blue and Duke of Burgundy.
What is chalk grassland?
Chalk grassland is mainly found on limestone and chalk valleys in Kent, Sussex, Surrey , the Chilterns and the Isle of Wight in southeast England.
Lime-rich, but low in nutrients, the thin soil holds little water and heats up quickly. These stressed conditions stop the dominant lush grasses from taking over. This allows a diverse range of smaller herbs and lower plants to flourish.
What plants grow there?
Common flowers such as small scabious and common bird’s foot trefoil can be found alongside many nationally rare plants such as the monkey and spider orchids and the delicate pasque flower.