Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copses
This is one of the finest examples of chalk woodland on the Isle of Wight. Oak and ash dominate and in early spring the parasitic toothwort can be seen. A large number of butterflies can be seen in the grassland adjacent to the woodland If luck is on your side you may see a red squirrel.
Coulters Dean
The bridle path through this reserve has chalk grassland on one side and woodland on the other. It is full of flowers in spring and summer, providing a valuable nectar source for the multitude of butterflies found here. The rarity Round-Headed Rampion can be found on this site along with eleven species of orchid including butterfly, common spotted and fragrant orchid.
Copythorne Common
A 17 hectare conifer woodland with glades of heath land and flower rich acid grassland situated on the edge of the New Forest.
Chappetts Copse
Many woodland flowers grow here in the dappled light beneath the Beech tresses and in the many clearings. These include several rare species of orchids. To the north of the site the planted yew trees dominate, creating a shadier feel to this part of the reserve, with few flowering plants. Silver-washed fritillary is one of a number of butterfly species to be found in the wood.
Broughton Down
Broughton Down is a chalk grassland with a steep chalk ridge with fringing woodland. Typical plants can be found here and include species such as horseshoe vetch and frog orchids. Large numbers of butterflies live here and include species such as chalkhill blue and dark green fritillary. A special feature here is an ancient droveway and round barrow
Blashford Lakes
Blashford Lakes is a series of flooded former gravel pits, now used for nature conservation and drinking water storage. The lakes are surrounded by willow, birch and alder woodland, as well as grassland. The reserve attracts thousands of wildfowl in winter as well as bittern and good numbers of woodland birds including redpoll, siskin and brambling. Wildlife watching is easy with access to six accessible bird hides and a number of “viewing screens” around the site. During the summer months it's a great place to look for adder, grass snake and kingfisher.
Hook Common and Bartley Heath
Hook Common and Bartley Heath are a network of over 330 acres of heathland and woodland near the village of Hook in north Hampshire.
Arreton Down
This is the largest area of unimproved chalk downland on the central chalk ridge of the Isle of Wight. There is an abundance of chalk grassland plants, which in turn support many butterflies, such as Brown Argus and Chalkhill Blue. The rare Field Cricket has been released here as part of the national Species Recovery Programme. There are extensive views across the Island from the higher parts of the down.
Ancells Farm
A lack of grazing here before the Trust took on the reserve led to purple moor-grass dominating this heath, although heath spotted orchids, bog asphodel, heather and cross-leaved heath are spreading once more. In parts, the delightfully fragrant bog-myrtle is abundant. The pond supports a rich variety of wildlife in and around its water including the small red damselfly and the keeled skimmer dragonfly.
Beacon Hill
Heathland once occupied extensive areas around Trellech, but clearance for agriculture and afforestation reduced virtually all of Gwent’s lowland heath to small fragments along tracks in conifer plantations. However, the plantations which once covered Beacon Hill have been cleared to bring back heathland, dominated by plants and animals adapted to the conditions on these nutrient-poor, acidic soils.
