Wotton Hill
Notification 1954 | | |
Natural England website |
Wotton Hill (
The escarpment forms a 26.1-hectare (64-acre)
The site is in the Cotswolds
Location
Wotton Hill lies on the Jurassic limestone scarp of the Cotswolds and includes disused quarries. It is an area of woodland, scrub, grassland and old quarries.[4] It is to the west of the Coombe Hill SSSI.[1]
Woodland
Westridge Wood (unit 1) and Conygre Wood (unit 3) are the two main areas of ancient woodland, which are mostly
Conygre Wood is listed in the 'Cotswold District' Local Plan 2001-2011 (on line).[6]
Grassland, scrub and quarries
The woods are linked by unimproved limestone grassland and scrub. (unit 5). The scrub and grassland in the disused quarries (unit 4) provides a good habitat for butterflies, which include
Geology
There are important exposures of rocks of the lower and middle
SSSI Source
- Natural England SSSI information on the citation
- Natural England SSSI information on the Wotton Hill units
Old London Road reserve
Location
This reserve (grid reference ST755943) is a 0.22-hectare (0.54-acre) site on the top of the Cotswold scarp, which is one and a half miles north of Wotton-under-Edge. It was purchased by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust in 1972, primarily to safeguard one of the only two remaining British locations of limestone woundwort. It lies on Inferior Oolitic limestone and is part of a row of small narrow fields known locally as 'The Cupboards'. It lies between the Old London Road and the ancient Conygre Wood; the wood is on the steep-sloping scarp.[3]
Plants
Limestone woundwort is protected under the 1981
The hedgerow supports a diverse woodland flora which includes
Invertebrates and birds
The hedgerow and fields support many butterflies including
Conservation
The prime aim is to increase the numbers of limestone woundwort, which are now reported present in the woodland units of the SSSI. Nettles are kept under control and the hedgerow is laid. Meadows are cut in June.[3]
Publications
- Kelham, A, Sanderson, J, Doe, J, Edgeley-Smith, M, et al., 1979, 1990, 2002 editions, 'Nature Reserves of the Gloucestershire Trust for Nature Conservation/Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust'
- 'Old London Road Nature Reserve near Wotton-under-Edge', (undated), Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
References
- ^ a b Natural England SSSI information on the citation
- ^ Stroud District Local Plan, adopted November 2005, Appendix 6 ‘Sites of Nature Conservation Interest’
- ^ a b c d e f Kelham, A, Sanderson, J, Doe, J, Edgeley-Smith, M, et al, 1979, 1990, 2002 editions, 'Nature Reserves of the Gloucestershire Trust for Nature Conservation/Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust'
- ^ a b c d Natural England citation for Wotton Hill
- ^ Natural England SSSI information on the Wotton Hill units
- ^ Cotswold District Local Plan, Appendix 2, Key Wildlife Sites
- ^ 2011, 'Nature Reserve Guide', Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust for its 50th anniversary
External links
- Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
- Natural England (SSSI information)
- National Trust