Prescombe Down NNR
Prescombe Down NNR is a botanically rich downland site consisting of a deep forking coombe (valley) system eroded into the chalk.
County: Wiltshire
Main habitats: Lowland Grassland
Area: 47 Ha
Site map: Nature on the Map
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View a map of this reserve: (142kb)
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Please note that, due to the fragility of the site, access away from public rights of way is by permit only. For details please email Natural England's Wiltshire office, or telephone 01380 726344.
Much of the vegetation is dominated by the nationally scarce dwarf sedge. The scarce early gentian is also found here in large numbers. Other wildflowers include fairy flax, salad burnet, squinancywort, clustered bellflower and dropwort.
The early gentian population at the site is the subject of monitoring by surveyors working on the Species Recovery programme for this wild flower.
Invertebrates found on the down include the wood tiger moth and yellow meadow ants who build abundant hills on some slopes. Local butterflies include the adonis blue, dingy and grizzled skipper, brown argus and marsh fritillary. The dark green fritillary is also recorded occasionally.
The site supports birds such as sparrowhawk, little owl, buzzard, blackcap, whitethroat and corn bunting.
The best time to visit the site is between spring and late summer for flowers and invertebrates.
Location and access
Prescombe Down is 17 km east of Gillingham, 18 km west of Salisbury and 5 km south of Tisbury. The nearest villages are West End and Ebbesborne Wake, both less than 1 km to the south.
By car, access to the site is via minor roads from the A30 and A354.
The nearest train stations are in Tisbury, Gillingham and Salisbury all served by South West Trains.
Bus services from these stations to Ebbesborne Wake are provided by the Wilts and Dorset Bus Company.
Ebbesborne Wake is also on Regional Route 20 (Wiltshire Cycleway) of the Sustrans National Cycle Network.
Facilities
The nearest toilet and refreshment facilities are in local villages.
