Dartmoor National Park Authority
Species - Dartmoor Specialities Sites of Nature Conservation Interest Dartmoor Habitats Biodiversity Geology Habitat and Species Management Dartmoor Wildlife Information Research, Survey and Monitoring Biodiversity Projects
East Dartmoor SSSI (SX6780)
Contains the largest area of heather moorland remaining on Dartmoor with a colourful combination of dwarf shrubs such as Common Heather, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Bilberry and Western Gorse. It is largely unenclosed, treeless and grazed by cattle, sheep and ponies. There are also areas of grassland dominated by Purple Moor-grass, Mat grass, Sheep’s Fescue, Common Bent and Bristle Bent. The valley bottoms are waterlogged with Sphagnum Mosses being common. In the wet pools grow Bog Bean, Marsh Lousewort and Bog Asphodel. Moorland birds include Red Grouse, Snipe, Curlew, Wheatear and Whinchat as well as Ring Ouzel. The Emperor Moth, a spectacular day-flying moth with eye-spots on its wings is also found here, its caterpillars feed on heather. The Two Moors Way passes right through this site.
Page updated 27 August 2009
