A small area of maturing scrub, with some chalk grassland indicator species still present, despite high levels of usage by children from the school next door. Ivy broomrape is a particularity scarce species in London but thrives here. This may be the best site in London for this parasitic plant. Recent improvements to access have included a small nature trail, improved paths and knee-rail fences to protect the best remnant chalk grassland examples.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Devonshire Avenue Nature Area
Borough: Sutton
Grade: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 0.42 ha
Description
Wildlife
Formerly houses and gardens, the chalk substrate is home to a variety of wild flowers, such as restharrow (Ononis repens), purging flax (Linum catharticum), blue fleabane (Erigeron acer) and kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria). The latter is the foodplant of the nationally rare small blue butterfly, which has a small colony here. Other butterflies are attracted to the flowers and scattered buddleia bushes (Buddleja davidii). The small area of woodland to the north of the grassland has recently been made accessible. Here flower spikes of ivy broomrape (Orobanche hederae) can be seen amongst the ivy (Hedera helix) at the base of an overgrown beech (Fagus sylvatica) hedge. This nationally scarce plant occurs in only a handful of sites in London, including one other site in Sutton, St Mary's Court Wildflower Area, Bute Road.Facilities
No information available
The tiny Small blue butterfly © Mike Waite
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