Gallows Hill SSSI, Wiltshire
Gallows Hill SSSI is a Site of Special Scientific Interest on the north side of the Ebble Valley in south Wiltshire. The area is chalk grassland and scrub which contains a number of animal and plant species that are nationally rare. The 27.8 hectares (69 acres) site was notified in 1965.
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 View towards Gallows Hill | |
  Location within Wiltshire | |
| Grid reference | ST 952 244 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51.019°N 2.070°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 27.8 hectares (69 acres) |
| Notification | 1965 |
The site
The site includes three areas of a series of slopes with a range of aspects on a long ridge on a long ridge of Lower, Middle, and Upper Chalk formations.[1] The site lies within the area of the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[1] The OS grid reference for the site is ST 952 244.[1]
Importance
The site is important as an example of a species rich downland habitat.[1] This type of habitat has been reduced across the country because of changes in agricultural practice.[1]
The site is notable for (in the grassland areas) Festuca ovina (sheep's fescue), Avenula pratensis (meadow oat-grass), Brachypodium pinnatum (tor-grass), and Polyommatus bellargus (Adonis Blue) - a nationally scarce species of butterfly, and in the scrub areas, Crataegus monogyna (common hawthorn), and Hedera helix (ivy).[1]
History
Gallows Hill SSSI was first notified in 1965 under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The notification was revised in 1975.[1]
References
- Gallows Hill SSSI Citation (PDF) (Report). English Nature. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
External links
- English Nature website (SSSI information)
- Defra map of site