Site Code
Country: United Kingdom
Central coordinates: 51.17775124o [51o 10' 39" North], -4.66851516o [4o 40' 6" West]
Administrative region: South West (North Devon)
Area: 1273 ha
Altitude: 0 - 140
Site Description
Lundy Island, in the Bristol Channel, is 18km from the nearest mainland. It is about 5km long by 1km wide, aligned north-south, with cliffs rising to a plateau at about 110m. The rock is mostly granite, with slate at the southern end, and the plateau soil is mainly loam with some peat. The plateau carries mainly heathy vegetation except where the land has been agriculturally improved or built on. The plateau vegetation comprises mainly dry heath, with a notable area of waved Calluna heath at the north end, which is also rich in lichens, e.g. Teloschistes flavicans and several species of Cladonia and Parmelia.
Scree near the landing beach is the main station for the endemic Lundy Cabbage Coincya wrightii and the south eastern cliffs also carry Balm-leaved Figwort Scrophularia scorodonia.
Botanical Significance
The island of Lundy is of great importance for its vascular plants, marine algae and lichens. It is home to the largest population of golden hair lichen in the UK and rare plants, such as the Lundy cabbage can be found on the sea cliffs. Its granite and slate reefs make the area a marine algae hotspot, with as many as 300 species recorded. The plateau vegetation comprises mainly dry heath, with a notable area of waved Calluna heath at the north end, which is also rich in lichens, e.g. Teloschistes flavicans and several species of Cladonia and Parmelia. Scree near the landing beach is the main station for the endemic Lundy Cabbage Coincya wrightii and the south eastern cliffs also carry Balm-leaved Figwort Scrophularia scorodonia.
Management guidance notes
IPA noted for: Vascular plants, Lichens, Marine algae.
Notes
None