The grassy slopes of Knocking Hoe are an important habitat for numerous common and uncommon wildflowers [see last entry]. Rather than being entirely "natural" such environments are the product of the relationship between nature and pre-industrial forms of agriculture. For example, grass grazed to a short sward by sheep allows certain plant species to proliferate.

 Go back a century or two and that happened as a matter of course. These days it generally has to be part of a planned conservation strategy.  

 Also specific interventions may be helpful. For example the area shown above is fenced off to avoid trampling a colony of the rare Burnt Tip Orchid. At least that's what they tell us. We know it's a landing place for flying saucers don't we?