Look out for

Butterflies

• Chalkhill Blue
• Marbled White
• Small Heath

Moths

• Barred Hooktip
• Blackneck
• Common Lutestring
• Orange-tailed clearwing
• Reddish Light Arches

Features

The reserve is traversed by a bridleway flanked by an ancient hedgerow. Together with a grove of trees to the south, and by the reservoir bank this helps shelter the areas of chalk grassland on this open hilltop.

Crossing the reserve is a modern track, and parallel to it run a series of wide ditches which are thought to be tracks of medieval origin.

The diverse chalk downland flora includes fragrant, pyramidal, bee and frog orchids, clustered bellflower, bastard toadflax, squinancywort, sainfoin, horseshoe and kidney vetch and hairy violet.

The reserve has recently been extended westwards through leasing the grazing on an adjoining 3.6 ha block of semi-improved grassland, but this does not have open access.

Size: 5.85 hectares (14.4 acres) in total; open access area is approx. 1.5 ha

Directions

Grid Reference: SU 455 265
O.S. Map: Landranger 185

There are several means of pedestrian access:

• By a track from Sainsbury's superstore at SU 464 274, the Bridleway from Oliver's Battery at SU 452 270 or the Hurdle Way track from Compton (all about a 20 minute walk)
• A 500m walk along the bridleway leading from the Millers Lane/ Old Kennels Lane junction. There is no formal car parking here - only the road verge. Plus use with consideration for local residents.
• A longer walk along the bridleway from Hurdle Way - no parking available.

Public transport

Bus service from Winchester Railway Station to Oliver's Battery.

Site Access and safety

Most of the reserve is designated Open Access land, and well served by clear open paths and one kissing gate.

Contact

Colin Matthews

Telephone: 01794 388272

or Lynn Fomison

Telephone 01962 772251