Nature Conservation

The crags and old mine workings at Honister are of outstanding value for wildlife.

The rocks are rich in minerals and grow a huge variety of wild plants. Many of these are only found on high, wild mountain ledges. They include the plants pictured to the right: roseroot, mossy saxifrage and yellow saxifrage, and also mountain sorrel, alpine saw-wort, globeflower and early purple orchid. So far, Natural England has recorded 143 species of flowering plant and 20 species of fern.

Mountain birds, such as Ring Ousel, Peregrine and Raven also use the crags and can often be heard calling above.

Because of its outstanding value, an area including the crags and old workings are designated both as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and at European level as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). For details click here and follow links to Honister Crag SSS1