Castle Bottom NNR

Castle Bottom is a British national nature reserve located near Yateley in Hampshire. The reserve is a designated a Special Protection Area (SPA)[1] and is an example of a Thames Basin Heath.[2] The site is owned by Hampshire County Council[3]

Geography

Castle bottom Nature reserve in February 2017

The nature reserve is situated south-west of Yateley and is on the north-west border of Blackbushe Airport. The reserve is a small lowland site of around 29 hectares (72 acres), containing two valley mires, with heathland and woodland habitats.[3][4] Each of the valley mires has an acidic stream running through them.[5]

History

There is evidence that the area was used by humans as far back as 1800 to 550 BC, with discovery of some ancient burial mounds.[1] There is evidence of banks being built in the Western Mire, but it is not possible to date exactly when they were built[6]

The land was owned by the Bramshill estate until 1952, when it was sold.[6] The land was last owned by a manufacturer of quarry equipment before the council purchased the site.[6]

In the early 20th century two cottages were built on the north border of the reserve. Used until the 1960s, they are now ruins.[1]

Fauna

The nature reserve has the following fauna:[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Mammals

Birds

Invertebrates

Reptiles, amphibians and other vertebrates

Fungi

Flora

The nature reserve has the following flora:[9][14]

Trees

Herbaceous plants

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Hampshire - Entertainment - Castle Bottom". BBC. 2014-10-28. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  2. ↑ "Castle Bottom site management". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  3. 1 2 "Hampshire's National Nature Reserves". GOV.UK. 2014-08-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  4. ↑ "Castle Bottom National Nature Reserve". .hants.gov.uk. 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  5. ↑ "Castle Bottom National Nature Reserve - Yateley - Days Out". The AA. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  6. 1 2 3 "History of Castle Bottom". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  7. ↑ "Mammals at Castle Bottom Nature Reserve". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  8. ↑ Name (required) (2014-08-27). "Castle Bottom National Nature Reserve -a hidden gem! | Yateley Common Country Park". Yateleycommoncountrypark.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  9. 1 2 "Castle Bottom to Yately and Hawley Commons SPA" (PDF). .hants.gov.uk. 2007-03-09. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  10. ↑ "Birds at Castle Bottom". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  11. ↑ "Insects at Castle Bottom". .hants.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  12. ↑ "Reptiles at Castle Bottom". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  13. ↑ "Fungi at Castle Bottom Nature Reserve". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  14. ↑ "Plants at Castle Bottom Nature Reserve". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.

Coordinates: 51°19′48″N 0°51′25″W / 51.330°N 0.857°W / 51.330; -0.857

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