Castle Bottom is a British national nature reserve located near Yateley in Hampshire. It is part of Castle Bottom to Yateley and Hawley Commons, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest,[1] and Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area for the conservation of wild birds[2]
Geography
edit
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
editThere is evidence that the area was used by humans as far back as 1800 to 550 BC, with discovery of some ancient burial mounds.[6] There is evidence of banks being built in the Western Mire, but it is not possible to date exactly when they were built[7]
The land was owned by the Bramshill estate until 1952, when it was sold.[7] The land was last owned by a manufacturer of quarry equipment before the council purchased the site.[7]
In the early 20th century two cottages were built on the north border of the reserve. Used until the 1960s, they are now ruins.[6]
Fauna
editThe nature reserve has the following fauna:[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
Mammals
editBirds
edit- African stonechat
- Woodlark
- European nightjar
- Dartford warbler
- Eurasian hobby
- Willow warbler
- Garden warbler
- Eurasian sparrowhawk
- Eurasian woodcock
- European turtle dove
- Lesser spotted woodpecker
- Tree pipit
- Song thrush
- Eurasian woodcock
- Goldcrest
- Common linnet
- Eurasian curlew
- Northern lapwing
- Common snipe
- Common swift
- Common kestrel
Invertebrates
edit- Dragonfly
- Damselfly
- Ectobius lapponicus
- Ectobius panzeri
- Silver-studded blue
- Myopa fasciata
- Chrysomela populi
- Large skipper
- Apatura iris
- Tethea or
- Pachycnemia hippocastanaria
- Polia hepatica
- Parascotia fuliginaria
- Ancylis upupana
- Eucosma conterminana
- Calamotropha paludella
- Crambus hamella
- Elaphria venustula
- Chrysis fulgida
- Symmorphus crassicornis
- European beewolf
- Andrena congruens
- Andrena florea
- Hydaticus seminiger
- Helochares punctatus
- Thomisus onustus
- Philodromus albidus
- Marpissa muscosa
- Aelurillus v-insignitus
- Xerolycosa nemoralis
- Zilla diodia
- Hypsosinga sanguinea
Reptiles, amphibians and other vertebrates
editFungi
editFlora
editThe nature reserve has the following flora:[10][15]
Trees
editHerbaceous plants
edit- Cuscuta epithymum
- Gnaphalium sylvaticum
- Hyacinthoides non-scripta
- Narthecium ossifragum
- Ulex minor
- Calluna
- Erica cinerea
- Erica tetralix
- Pteridium aquilinum
- Ulex europaeus
- Agrostis curtisii
- Moenchia erecta
- Botrychium lunaria
- Cirsium dissectum
- Myrica gale
- Rhynchospora alba
- Drosera rotundifolia
- Drosera intermedia
- Anagallis tenella
- Centaurium erythraea
- Lotus corniculatus
- Polygala
References
edit- ^ "Designated Sites View: Castle Bottom to Yateley and Hawley Commons". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Designated Sites View: Thames Basin Heaths". Special Protection Areas. Natural England. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ "Hampshire's National Nature Reserves". GOV.UK. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Castle Bottom National Nature Reserve". .hants.gov.uk. 22 July 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Castle Bottom National Nature Reserve - Yateley - Days Out". The AA. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Hampshire - Entertainment - Castle Bottom". BBC. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ a b c "History of Castle Bottom". .hants.gov.uk. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Mammals at Castle Bottom Nature Reserve". .hants.gov.uk. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Castle Bottom National Nature Reserve -a hidden gem! | Yateley Common Country Park". Yateleycommoncountrypark.wordpress.com. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Castle Bottom to Yately and Hawley Commons SPA" (PDF). .hants.gov.uk. 9 March 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Birds at Castle Bottom". .hants.gov.uk. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Insects at Castle Bottom". .hants.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Reptiles at Castle Bottom". .hants.gov.uk. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Fungi at Castle Bottom Nature Reserve". .hants.gov.uk. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Plants at Castle Bottom Nature Reserve". .hants.gov.uk. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.