Gentle slopes on the Maiden Paps support species-rich Magnesian Limestone grassland dominated by upright brome
Bromus erectus, blue moor-grass
Sesleria albicans, crested hair-grass
Koeleria macrantha, red fescue
Festuca rubra, glaucous sedge
Carex flacca and herbs such as common rock-rose
Helianthemum nummularia, salad burnet
Sanguisorba minor, fairy flax
Linum catharticum, wild thyme
Thymus praecox, pignut
Conopodium majus, small scabious
Scabiosa columbaria and sea plantain
Plantago maritima. Of particular note is a small population of perennial flax
Linum anglicum, which occurs here towards the northern limit of its distribution range in Great Britain, and locally uncommon plants such as frog orchid
Coeloglossum viride, autumn gentian
Gentianella amarella, purple milk-vetch
Astragalus danicus and thrift
Armeria maritima. Steep south-facing slopes above the reclaimed railway line support a more open, herb-rich grassland characterised by common quaking-grass
Briza media, blue moorgrass, crested hair-grass and red fescue with yarrow
Achillea millefolium, hairy violet
Viola hirta, hoary ragwort
Senecio erucifolius, and fragrant orchid
Gymnadenia conopsea. Other uncommon plants include pale St. John's-wort
Hypericum montanum, lesser meadow-rue
Thalictrum minus, and black bryony
Tamus communis. == Land ownership ==