Castle Bottom NNR

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
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.[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

The nature reserve has the following fauna:[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

Mammals

Birds

Invertebrates

Reptiles, amphibians and other vertebrates

Fungi

Flora

The nature reserve has the following flora:[10][15]

Trees

Herbaceous plants

References
  1. "Designated Sites View: Castle Bottom to Yateley and Hawley Commons". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  2. "Designated Sites View: Thames Basin Heaths". Special Protection Areas. Natural England. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  3. "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. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  5. "Castle Bottom National Nature Reserve - Yateley - Days Out". The AA. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  6. "Hampshire - Entertainment - Castle Bottom". BBC. 2014-10-28. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  7. "History of Castle Bottom". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  8. "Mammals at Castle Bottom Nature Reserve". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  9. "Castle Bottom National Nature Reserve -a hidden gem! | Yateley Common Country Park". Yateleycommoncountrypark.wordpress.com. 2014-08-27. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  10. "Castle Bottom to Yately and Hawley Commons SPA" (PDF). .hants.gov.uk. 2007-03-09. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  11. "Birds at Castle Bottom". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  12. "Insects at Castle Bottom". .hants.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  13. "Reptiles at Castle Bottom". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  14. "Fungi at Castle Bottom Nature Reserve". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  15. "Plants at Castle Bottom Nature Reserve". .hants.gov.uk. 2015-04-02. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-29.

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