Dartmoor National Park Authority
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Whitchurch Down SSSI (SX5374)
Contains a herb-rich valley mire together with a good variety of invertebrates including some rarities. This is a good place to see typical Dartmoor bog plants. The wettest areas are characterised by hummocks of Sphagnum mosses together with Devil’s Bit Scabious, Common Yellow Sedge, Carnation Sedge, Mat-grass and Purple Moor-grass. Unusual plants include Round-leaved Sundew, Pale Butterwort, Bog Asphodel and Bog Pimpernel, in the pools there is Bog Pondweed, Lesser Spearwort and Round-leaved Crowfoot. Other flowering plants include Lesser Skullcap, Ivy-leaved Bellflower, Marsh St John’s Wort, Marsh Violet, Lousewort (see Dartmoor Pocket Guide - Bog Plants) and the Cornish Moneywort grows along the banks of the stream. Invertebrates include 10 species of Dragonfly such as Southern Hawker, Beautiful Demoiselle, Golden-ringed Dragonfly and the local White-legged Damselfly. The nationally scarce High Brown Fritillary also occurs here.
Page updated 27 August 2009
