​COULTERS DEAN FARM

COULTERS DEAN NATURE RESERVE

 

Situated just to the east of the property and forming a large part of the views from the bottom of the grounds, the Nature Reserve at Coulters Dean and associated woods used to belong to Coulters Dean Farm until 1996 when they were acquired by Hampshire Wildlife Trust. It is an exceptionally beautiful and rich area of chalk Downland and is much-loved by the present owners of Coulters Dean Farm. It is also a fine example of semi-natural broadleaved woodland.
 
Over 10 species of orchid are to be found here including large numbers of Fragrant, Pyramidal and Greater Butterfly Orchids and Broad-leaved Helleborines. Also to be found is Small Scabious, Rough Hawkbit, Kidney Vetch, Quaking Grass, Round-headed Rampion and Eyebright.
 
The grassland contains populations of Duke of Burgundy, Marbled White and Chalkhill Blue butterflies and Cheese Snails. The species of plant and butterflies here are nationally rare.
 
The woods (which are directly above Coulters Dean Farm) are home to, amongst others, badgers, deer, foxes, buzzards, nightjars, hobbies, tawny owls and woodpeckers.
 
The Reserve is managed by a combination of manual scrub removal by volunteers and winter sheep grazing.