About the reserve

A 'ridge-and-furrow' meadow with a spectacular show of orchids in spring

This reserve has been managed as a traditional hay meadow for over a century and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Ridge-and-furrow earthworks (remnants of ploughing from the Middle Ages) are still visible here. Many different fine grasses are found: sweet vernal-grass, red fescue, quaking-grass and yellow oat-grass.

During spring the meadows are full of cowslips and green-winged orchids. Ox-eye daisy, adder’s-tongue fern and pepper-saxifrage are also found here.

Resident butterflies include orangetip, holly blue, marbled white, brown argus and small copper. Birds include bullfinch, long-tailed tit, willow warbler, cuckoo and blackcap. Lucky visitors may also catch a glimpse of barn owl hunting at dusk. The dense hedges around the meadows provide refuge for small mammals and insects.

The meadow is cut for hay and grazed by sheep. As a Coronation Meadow, seed from Chettisham is sown on other sites as part of the Coronation Meadows scheme. 

Additional information

• Scroll down to see the reserve boundary. Please note the boundary map is for indication purposes only and does not show the Wildlife Trusts definitive land boundary. 

FOR ANY MEDIA ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM:   communicationsteam@wildlifebcn.org or 01954 713500 and ask for comms team.