Species vulnerabilities and protections

Some of the species found in Heene Cemetery are protected by Acts and legislation. Some are also listed as being rare or endangered by local, national and global non-profits. This page details these species. Further information on the specific Acts, laws and lists is provided at the bottom of this page. [Species displayed: 35]

Agrostemma githago (Corn Cockle)

Sadly, our native Corn Cockle is now extremely rare, having been seriously affected by agricultural herbicides.
  • Sussex Rare Species Inventory

Anguis fragilis (Slowworm)

Slowworms' tails are brittle, so care is needed when handling them.
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species
  • Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981

Anthus trivialis (Tree Pipit)

Tree Pipits are streaky-brown in colour with pale underparts. Males and females are similar in colour.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Red List
  • Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 Section 41
  • Sussex Notable Bird List
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species

Argiope bruennichi (Wasp Spider)

Originally native to the Mediterranean, this spider has colonised the south coast of England, and is expanding its range inland.
  • Sussex Rare Species Inventory

Briza media (Quaking Grass)

Quaking Grass is classed as having a Red List GB Post 2001 NT (near-threatened) conservation status.
  • IUCN Red List ENG post 2001 NT (near-threatened)

Calophasia lunula (Toadflax Brocade Moth)

Caterpillars of the Toadflax Brocade Moth feed on Purple and Common Toadflax.
  • IUNC Red List GB Pre94 R (rare)
  • Sussex Rare Species Inventory

Carduelis chloris (Greenfinch)

The stout bill of the Greenfinch reveals its preference for large seeds, such as rose hips and cereal grains.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Red List
  • Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981

Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower)

The blue flowers of Cornflower appear in June and by early July are soon gone, as can be seen in this photograph.
  • Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 Section 41
  • Sussex Rare Species Inventory
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species

Cheilosia soror (Truffle Blacklet)

Adults hoverflies of this species are seen on umbellifers (as shown here) between June and early autumn.
  • Sussex Rare Species Inventory

Curruca communis (Whitethroat)

Whitethroats are summer migrants to the UK, flying all the way from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia to breed here. The first birds tend to arrive in April, with the last leaving by early October.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Amber List
  • Sussex Notable Bird List

Erinaceus europaeus (Western Hedgehog)

A close-up of one of the rescue hedgehogs we are looking after in Heene Cemetery.
  • IUCN Red List ENG post 2001 NT (near-threatened)
  • Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 Section 41
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species

Ficedula hypoleuca (Pied Flycatcher)

The Pied Flycatcher is a striking bird in its breeding phase with brighter and darker-coloured plumage than at other times.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Amber List
  • Sussex Notable Bird List

Glebionis segetum (Corn Marigold)

The daisy-like bright yellow flowers of the Corn Marigold appear from June.
  • IUCN Red List ENG post 2001 VU (vulnerable)

Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell)

The tips of the English Bluebell's flowers revolute, meaning they roll back from the tip.
  • Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981

Knautia arvensis (Field Scabious)

Field Scabious flowers between June and September with a single, dense, lilac-coloured flower head on each tall stem.
  • IUCN Red List ENG post 2001 NT (near-threatened)

Lacerta vivipara (Common Lizard)

The common lizard is a speedy carnivore, subsisting on insects, arachnids, and other invertebrates.
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species
  • Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981

Larus argentatus (Herring Gull)

Although 130,000 pairs of Herring Gull were recorded in 2016, their UK conservation status is RED.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Red List
  • Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 Section 41
  • Sussex Notable Bird List
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species

Linaria cannabina (Linnet)

Linnets are resident breeders as well as Winter visitors.
  • Birds of Conservation Concern 4: Red list
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species
  • Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981

Muscicapa striata (Spotted Flycatcher)

Spotted Flycatchers have grey-brown upper parts and a paler, off-white breast. Their breasts and foreheads are streaked - or <em>striated</em>.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Red List
  • Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 Section 41
  • Sussex Notable Bird List
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species

Passer domesticus (House Sparrow)

House Sparrows have a RED status in Britain. They nest in towns and cities close to people.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Red List
  • Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 Section 41
  • Sussex Notable Bird List
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species

Phylloscopus trochilus (Willow Warbler)

The Willow Warbler is almost unique amongst birds in that it moults all of its feathers twice in a year.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Amber List
  • Sussex Notable Bird List

Prunella modularis (Dunnock)

This Dunnock is about to be released, having been ringed in Heene Cemetery on March 15th 2021.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Red List
  • Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 Section 41
  • Sussex Notable Bird List
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species

Rana Temporaria (Common Frog)

Common Frog in the Cemetery's tiny pond, 4th March 2025.
  • Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981

Rosa canina x stylosa (Dog-rose x. Field-rose)

This rose is a hybrid cross between two native roses, the Dog-rose and the Field-rose.
  • Sussex Rare Species Inventory

Satyrium w-album (White-letter Hairstreak)

The White-letter Hairstreak is a small, dark butterfly, considered to be uncommon, even rare.
  • IUCN Red List GB post 2001 EN (endangered)
  • Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 Section 41
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species
  • Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981

Silene flos-cuculi (Ragged-Robin)

Ragged-Robin is a native, damp-loving plant, flowering from May.
  • IUCN Red List ENG post 2001 NT (near-threatened)

Sturnus vulgaris (Starling)

The elusive and skittish Starling is a gregarious bird.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Red List
  • Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 Section 41
  • Sussex Notable Bird List
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species

Tilia platyphyllos (Large-leaved Lime)

There are three species of lime tree in Britain, but only the Large-leaved Lime is found in the cemetery.
  • Nationally rare or scarce (formerly Nationally Notable)
  • Sussex Rare Species Inventory

Troglodytes troglodytes (Wren)

For a little bird with a cocked tail, the Wren has a loud call, but also a rich melodious song.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Amber List

Turdus iliacus (Redwing)

The small member of the thrush family has a cream stripe over its eyes, and red under the wings.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Amber List
  • Sussex Notable Bird List

Turdus philomelos (Song Thrush)

Song Thrushes are resident breeders, and Winter visitors.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Amber List
  • Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 Section 41
  • Sussex Notable Bird List
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species

Turdus viscivorus (Mistle Thrush)

The name Mistle Thrush comes from the bird's fondness for mistletoe berries, which plant it helps spread.
  • IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Red List
  • Sussex Notable Bird List

Tyria jacobaeae (Cinnabar Moth)

Cinnabar Moths with their grey wings with red spots and edges are unmistakeable.
  • Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 Section 41
  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species

Volucella inanis (Wasp Plumehorn)

Volucella inanis is one of Britain's larger hoverflies at 12 - 14 millimetres in length.
  • Sussex Rare Species Inventory

Volucella zonaria (Hornet Mimic Hoverfly)

This hoverfly is capable of buzz pollination. Gripping firmly onto petals, it vibrates its large body, releasing pollen.
  • Sussex Rare Species Inventory

Protection details

Birds Directive Annex 1

The European Birds Directive was adopted by the UK in 1979. One of its main achievements was to create a network of Special Protection Areas. Annex 1 lists 175 bird species. The Directive can be viewed here. These can be viewed here (PDF).

Birds of Conservation Concern 4: Amber list

Amber list bird species are those with an unfavourable conservation status in Europe; those whose population or range has declined moderately in recent years; those whose population has declined historically but made a substantial recent recovery; rare breeders; and those with internationally important or localised populations. Those species listed as amber or red can be viewed here (on the NBN Atlas website). The British Trust for Ornithology listed 103 species of bird on the Amber list in 2021. A similar listing by British Birds is available here (PDF format).

Birds of Conservation Concern 4: Red list

Red list bird species are those in most urgent need of our help because they are in critical decline. Those species listed as amber or red can be viewed here (on the NBN Atlas website). The British Trust for Ornithology listed 70 species of bird on the Red list in 2021. A similar listing by British Birds is available here (PDF format).

Conservation of Habitats & Species Regulations 2010 Schedule 2

This 2010 Act is wide-ranging in the protections it provides to Britain's countryside, but Schedule 2 lists species of European animals covered by the Act. You can view the Act here, and the list of Schedule 5 animals here.

Conservation of Habitats & Species Regulations 2010 Schedule 5

This 2010 Act is wide-ranging in the protections it provides to Britain's countryside, but Schedule 5 lists species of European plants covered by the Act. You can view the Act here, and the list of Schedule 5 plants here.

Habitats Directive Annex 2 Non-Priority Species

The Habitats Directives form the cornerstones of EU biodiversity policy. The Habitats Directives aims to protect over a thousand species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish invertebrates, and plants, and 230 characteristic habitat types. It was adopted as EU law in 1992. Habitat types that are listed in the Directives' Annex I and II are listed by the Joint Conservation Committee, a list that covers both Priority and Non-priority species habitats. Animal and plant species covered by these annexes are listed by the European Environment Agency.

Habitats Directive Annex 2 Priority Species

The Habitats Directives form the cornerstones of EU biodiversity policy. The Habitats Directives aims to protect over a thousand species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish invertebrates, and plants, and 230 characteristic habitat types. It was adopted as EU law in 1992. Habitat types that are listed in the Directives' Annex I and II are listed by the Joint Conservation Committee, a list that covers both Priority and Non-priority species habitats. Animal and plant species covered by these annexes are listed by the European Environment Agency.

Habitats Directive Annex 4

The EU Habitats Directive Annex IV was created in 2007 (replacing the earlier Annex IV "animal and plant species of community interest in need of strict protection"), being renamed "Annex IV "animal and plant species of community interest in need of strict protection". The species list is available on the UK government's website.

IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Amber List

The International Union for Conservation (IUCN) of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species was established in 1964 and is the world's most comprehensive information source on global extinction risk status of animal and plant species. Their list of more than 150,000 species (in June 2023) can be searched on their website. Those species on these lists are co-ordinated in Britain by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the statutory nature advisor to all four UK countries. They provide a spreadsheet of IUCN of red lists in the UK.

IUCN Birds of Conservation Concern: Red List

The International Union for Conservation (IUCN) of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species was established in 1964 and is the world's most comprehensive information source on global extinction risk status of animal and plant species. Their list of more than 150,000 species (in June 2023) can be searched on their website. Those species on these lists are co-ordinated in Britain by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the statutory nature advisor to all four UK countries. They provide a spreadsheet of IUCN of red lists in the UK.

IUCN Red List ENG post 2001 NT (near-threatened)

The International Union for Conservation (IUCN) of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species was established in 1964 and is the world's most comprehensive information source on global extinction risk status of animal and plant species. Their list of more than 150,000 species (in June 2023) can be searched on their website. Those species on these lists are co-ordinated in Britain by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the statutory nature advisor to all four UK countries. They provide a spreadsheet of IUCN of red lists in the UK.

IUCN Red List ENG post 2001 VU (vulnerable)

The International Union for Conservation (IUCN) of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species was established in 1964 and is the world's most comprehensive information source on global extinction risk status of animal and plant species. Their list of more than 150,000 species (in June 2023) can be searched on their website. Those species on these lists are co-ordinated in Britain by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the statutory nature advisor to all four UK countries. They provide a spreadsheet of IUCN of red lists in the UK.

IUCN Red List GB post 2001 EN (endangered)

The International Union for Conservation (IUCN) of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species was established in 1964 and is the world's most comprehensive information source on global extinction risk status of animal and plant species. Their list of more than 150,000 species (in June 2023) can be searched on their website. Those species on these lists are co-ordinated in Britain by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the statutory nature advisor to all four UK countries. They provide a spreadsheet of IUCN of red lists in the UK.

IUNC Red List GB Pre94 R (rare)

The International Union for Conservation (IUCN) of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species was established in 1964 and is the world's most comprehensive information source on global extinction risk status of animal and plant species. Their list of more than 150,000 species (in June 2023) can be searched on their website. Those species on these lists are co-ordinated in Britain by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the statutory nature advisor to all four UK countries. They provide a spreadsheet of IUCN of red lists in the UK.

Nationally rare or scarce (formerly Nationally Notable)

The rare or scarce conservation statuses are criteria applied to species under threat. They record the presence of species in a hectad, a 10 kilometre square grid. If a species is nationally rare, it is found in 15 or fewer hectads in Britain. If a species is scarce (also referred to as notable), it is found in between 16 and 100 hectads.

Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 Section 41

This is a list of habitats and species of principal importance in England includes 56 habitats and 943 species first identified as priority habitats and species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP). The list of habitats and species included is available on the UK government's website.

Sussex Notable Bird List

The Sussex Notable Bird List consists of species that are particularly scarce or vulnerable to development. It includes species which are either on the Birds of Conservation Concern Red and Amber lists or Schedule 1 species known to have bred in Sussex, or have been recorded in summer and may breed in the future. These species have been decided on by the Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS) who maintain the full list of Sussex bird species, amongst which are indicated those that are notable and/or of concern.

Sussex Rare Species Inventory

The Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre runs a data request service which is available on demand. They hold species data from a variety of sources (such as the Sussex Botanical Recording Society, the Sussex Dragonfly Group, the Sussex Ornithological Society and Sussex Butterfly Conservation), and reports they provide for a specific site can check against these various lists.

UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species

UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species were those that were identified as being the most threatened and requiring conservation action under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP). Various lists of these species are available (in PDF format) on the JNCC website.

Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981

This is the principle wildlife protection Act in Britain, covering wild birds, animals and plants, as well as the establishment and maintenance of our national parks. The text of the 1994 Act can be viewed here.