Hog Cliff NNR
Hog Cliff NNR is a chalk downland area comprising three seperate sites centred on Hog Cliff Hill.
County: Dorset
Main habitats: Lowland Grassland
Area: 88 Ha
Site map: Nature on the Map
.
The reserve has downland slopes on a range of aspects with rich grassland communities typical of the chalk of west-central Dorset. Areas of scrub (principally on the upper slopes) and small areas of woodland add diversity to the site.
View a map of this reserve: (126kb)
.
The grassland supports a wide range of grasses, herbs and flowering plants such as sheep's fescue, meadow oat, rockrose, small scabious, devil's bit, chalk milkwort, and betony. Over 100 species of fungi have been recorded on the NNR.
Butterflies bring a lively splash of colour to the reserve during the summer. These include the rare adonis blue and marsh fritillary, and more common species such as the green hairstreak, common blue, gatekeeper, grizzled skipper and dingy skipper.
The best time to visit the site is spring and early summer.
Location and access
The reserve is 2 km south east of Maiden Newton and 8 km north west of Dorchester. The site is split by the A37 and access to the reserve is via minor roads from the A37 and A356. The nearest car park is a small layby on the A37.
The nearest train station is in Maiden Newton served by Wessex Trains. First Group provides bus services on both the A356 and A37 from Dorchester to local towns. See Transport Direct for journey planning.
Maiden Newton is on the route of the Wessex Ridgeway trail. It is also on Route 26 of Sustrans National Cycle Network.
Facilities
The nearest toilet and refreshment facilities are in Maiden Newton. There are signs and leaflets at the site to aid visitors.
