A sheltered herb-rich meadow with a tree-lined stream. The reserve adjoins Alice Holt Forest, famous for its oak trees which once supplied timber for navy ships.
LOOK OUT FOR
Butterflies
- Brimstone
- Brown Argus
- Comma
- Common Blue
- Gatekeeper
- Holly Blue
- Large Skipper
- Large White
- Marbled White
- Meadow Brown
- Orange Tip
- Painted Lady
- Purple Emperor
- Red Admiral
- Ringlet
- Silver-washed Fritillary
- Small Copper
- Small Skipper
- Small White
- Speckled Wood
- White Admiral
Moths
- Large Red-belted Clearwing
- Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth
FEATURES
The site is an interesting wet meadow on a sheltered west facing woodland edge.
The meadow is probably medieval in origin and lies mainly on Gault clay, though with an area of dry slightly acidic soil provides variation in the vegetation.
It is managed by grazing with cattle and careful scrub control - ensuring enough remains to sustain the species relying on it. In addition to the main meadow the reserve includes a stand of oak trees.
The reserve borders Alice Holt Forest - a large Ancient Semi Natural Woodland manged by Forest Enterprise. This important forest means that many woodland species can be seen on the reserve, which has been owned by Butterfly Conservation since 1992. The reserve is within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified for the grassland and woodland habitats.
DIRECTIONS
The reserve lies 100m south-east of Bentley Station car park.
Turn off the A31 Guildford-Alton road at Bentley village for Bentley Railway Station. The reserve entrance is a short distance along the footpath leading east from the station. The station has two platforms linked by a footbridge and there is also a pedestrian level crossing. Carparking (charged) is available at the station. A yellow-line parking restriction in Station Road applies until 10.00 am.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Trains from London Waterloo to Alton call at Bentley Station. A Sunday service is available.
ACCESS AND SAFETY
The closest is from the station, but the reserve is also within walking distancefrom the Forestry Commission carparks in Alice Holt to the east (Gravel Hill). A public footpath crosses the reserve north to south and this also provides an entrance at the southern end on Blacknest Road (please note this footpath follows a private driveway for part of its route - no parking). The entrances have kissing gates.
Contact
Lynn Fomison
- Telephone: 01962 772251
Leaflet available