Description:

Lewes Downs (Mount Caburn) NNR is a hill and valley with south-facing slopes, clothed in grassland with a scattered scrub.
To view an information sheet for Lewes Down NNR visit the weblink ands look under NNRs.
The site is a good example of ancient, traditionally managed chalk downland and is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), under the European Habitats Directive, as an example of orchid-rich chalk grassland.

As well as the fragrant and pyramidal orchids typical of these downs, the site has the largest British population of burnt-tip orchid. The rare small-leaved sweet-briar can also be found amongst the downland scrub.

Invertebrates include Adonis and chalk-hill blue butterflies and the scarce forester moth.

The cultural history of Mount Caburn mirrors its wildlife value. The reserve contains the 'Caburn', one of the best preserved and most important Bronze Age hill-forts in Sussex. The hill's name probably derives from the Celtic 'Caer Bryn' meaning 'stonghold hill'.

In the 18th century, John Ellman, the local tenant farmer, developed the internationally famous South Down breed of sheep on this downland. Once the world's most important breed, the South Down is now a rare breed.

The best time to visit the site is between May and July for butterflies, poppies and other wildflowers.