Castle Bottom National Nature Reserve

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Overview

Castle Bottom NNR is a small lowland site near Cricket Hill. It features one of the most important valley mires in southern England, with associated heathland and woodland habitats. The reserve is dominated by the two valley mire complexes which run through it, each with a small acidic stream running through the centre. The mires are mainly fed by water seeping out of the gravel beds at seepage steps. The two mires differ in community terms, the eastern being more open and dominated by bog myrtle and purple moor grass. There are small pools of open water, some natural and some man-made. There are also open areas with carpets of the bog-forming moss sphagnum. The western bog is grown over in many places with mature birch. The reserve currently supports 42 species of breeding heathland birds, with some rare and notable species such as Dartford warbler, nightjar and woodlark.

Location

Yateley

About the area

Hampshire’s varied landscape of hills and heaths, downlands and forests, valleys and coast are without rival in southern England. Hike across the chalk downland of the north Hampshire ‘highlands’, meander along peaceful paths through unspoilt river valleys of the Test, Itchen, Avon and Meon, or explore the lonely salt marshes and the beautiful medieval forest and heathland of the New Forest.

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Castle Bottom National Nature Reserve

Yateley

01252 870425

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Castle Bottom National Nature Reserve

Recommended by

Overview

Castle Bottom NNR is a small lowland site near Cricket Hill. It features one of the most important valley mires in southern England, with associated heathland and woodland habitats. The reserve is dominated by the two valley mire complexes which run through it, each with a small acidic stream running through the centre. The mires are mainly fed by water seeping out of the gravel beds at seepage steps. The two mires differ in community terms, the eastern being more open and dominated by bog myrtle and purple moor grass. There are small pools of open water, some natural and some man-made. There are also open areas with carpets of the bog-forming moss sphagnum. The western bog is grown over in many places with mature birch. The reserve currently supports 42 species of breeding heathland birds, with some rare and notable species such as Dartford warbler, nightjar and woodlark.

Location

Yateley

About the area

Area image

Hampshire’s varied landscape of hills and heaths, downlands and forests, valleys and coast are without rival in southern England. Hike across the chalk downland of the north Hampshire ‘highlands’, meander along peaceful paths through unspoilt river valleys of the Test, Itchen, Avon and Meon, or explore the lonely salt marshes and the beautiful medieval forest and heathland of the New Forest.

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Yateley Hampshire Things To Do in Hampshire