Butser Hill
Encyclopedia
Butser Hill is a chalk
hill and one of the highest points in Hampshire
. It is also the highest point on the chalk ridge of the South Downs
and the second highest point in the South Downs National Park
after Blackdown in the Western Weald
. Although only 271 metres (889 ft) high, it qualifies as one of England
's Marilyns
. It is located within the borders of the Queen Elizabeth Country Park
, situated about three miles south of the historic market town
of Petersfield, Hampshire
.
The name Butser comes from the Old English Bryttes Oran meaning Briht's slope. Oran or Ora is Old English for flat topped hill and/or steep slope.
The flat summit is surrounded by a number of spurs. Iron age ditches and banks divide the spurs from the summit although the purpose of these earthworks is unclear.
The hill was purchased by Hampshire County Council
in 1966. Prior to the purchase the summit was used for growing wheat but now the only farming activity is grazing.
Most of the park, including Butser Hill, is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest
and since 1998 as a National Nature Reserve
. At 2.312 square kilometre (0.892668190665941 sq mi) this is large when compared against other lowland terrestrial SSSIs and is the second largest area of calcareous grassland
in Hampshire
.
Butser Hill SSSI has been proposed by the Government as a Special Area of Conservation
(SAC), recognising its importance from a Europe
an perspective. This is due to the rich variety of flora and fauna located upon the hill. Butser Hill is in the top twenty Hampshire chalk grassland sites for its rich vascular flora, and is the richest chalk grassland site in Hampshire
in terms of its bryophyte
(125 species
) and lichen
(82 species) flora. As well as this, over 30 species of butterfly
have been recorded, including populations of Duke of Burgundy and the Silver-spotted Skipper, making the area an important conservation area for many butterfly species.
Butser Hill has also hosted entertainment events. Since 2007 it has hosted butserfest
and has hosted various country fairs in the past.
experimental archaeology
project.
Only fools and horses.
The hang glider scene in Episode no 35 Three for tea was filmed on the western slopes of Butser Hill.
Chalk
Chalk is a soft, white, porous sedimentary rock, a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite. Calcite is calcium carbonate or CaCO3. It forms under reasonably deep marine conditions from the gradual accumulation of minute calcite plates shed from micro-organisms called coccolithophores....
hill and one of the highest points in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. It is also the highest point on the chalk ridge of the South Downs
South Downs
The South Downs is a range of chalk hills that extends for about across the south-eastern coastal counties of England from the Itchen Valley of Hampshire in the west to Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, in the east. It is bounded on its northern side by a steep escarpment, from whose...
and the second highest point in the South Downs National Park
South Downs National Park
The South Downs National Park is England's newest National Park, having become fully operational on 1 April 2011. The park, covering an area of in southern England, stretches for from Winchester in the west to Eastbourne in the east through the counties of Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex...
after Blackdown in the Western Weald
Western Weald
The western Weald is an area of undulating countryside in Hampshire and West Sussex containing a mixture of woodland and heathland areas.It lies to the south of the towns of Bordon, Haslemere and Rake and to the west of the town of Pulborough. It includes the towns of Liss and Petersfield on its...
. Although only 271 metres (889 ft) high, it qualifies as one of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's Marilyns
Marilyn (hill)
A Marilyn is a mountain or hill in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or Isle of Man with a relative height of at least 150 metres , regardless of absolute height or other merit...
. It is located within the borders of the Queen Elizabeth Country Park
Queen Elizabeth Country Park
Queen Elizabeth Country Park is a large country park situated on the South Downs in southern England. It is located on the A3 road three miles south of Petersfield, Hampshire....
, situated about three miles south of the historic market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
of Petersfield, Hampshire
Petersfield, Hampshire
Petersfield is a market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is north of Portsmouth, on the A3 road. The town has its own railway station on the Portsmouth Direct Line, the mainline rail link connecting Portsmouth and London. The town is situated on the...
.
The name Butser comes from the Old English Bryttes Oran meaning Briht's slope. Oran or Ora is Old English for flat topped hill and/or steep slope.
The flat summit is surrounded by a number of spurs. Iron age ditches and banks divide the spurs from the summit although the purpose of these earthworks is unclear.
The hill was purchased by Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council is the county council that governs the majority of the county of Hampshire in England. It provides the upper tier of local government, below which are district councils, and town and parish councils...
in 1966. Prior to the purchase the summit was used for growing wheat but now the only farming activity is grazing.
Most of the park, including Butser Hill, is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
and since 1998 as a National Nature Reserve
National Nature Reserve
For details of National nature reserves in the United Kingdom see:*National Nature Reserves in England*National Nature Reserves in Northern Ireland*National Nature Reserves in Scotland*National Nature Reserves in Wales...
. At 2.312 square kilometre (0.892668190665941 sq mi) this is large when compared against other lowland terrestrial SSSIs and is the second largest area of calcareous grassland
Calcareous grassland
Calcareous grassland is an ecosystem associated with thin basic soil, such as that on chalk and limestone downland. Plants on calcareous grassland are typically short and hardy, and include grasses and herbs such as clover...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
.
Butser Hill SSSI has been proposed by the Government as a Special Area of Conservation
Special Area of Conservation
A Special Area of Conservation is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive , also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora...
(SAC), recognising its importance from a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an perspective. This is due to the rich variety of flora and fauna located upon the hill. Butser Hill is in the top twenty Hampshire chalk grassland sites for its rich vascular flora, and is the richest chalk grassland site in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
in terms of its bryophyte
Bryophyte
Bryophyte is a traditional name used to refer to all embryophytes that do not have true vascular tissue and are therefore called 'non-vascular plants'. Some bryophytes do have specialized tissues for the transport of water; however since these do not contain lignin, they are not considered to be...
(125 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
) and lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
(82 species) flora. As well as this, over 30 species of butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
have been recorded, including populations of Duke of Burgundy and the Silver-spotted Skipper, making the area an important conservation area for many butterfly species.
Butser Hill has also hosted entertainment events. Since 2007 it has hosted butserfest
Butserfest
Butserfest is a festival created by East Hampshire District Council. This music festival is targeted at young people aged 14-20 and is an alcohol/drug free event. It has become an annual event due to its success in 2007. It is held on Butser Hill opposite Queen Elizabeth's Country Park near...
and has hosted various country fairs in the past.
See also
A spur of Butser hill known as Little Butser was the original home of the Butser Ancient FarmButser Ancient Farm
- External links :* * *...
experimental archaeology
Experimental archaeology
Experimental archaeology employs a number of different methods, techniques, analyses, and approaches in order to generate and test hypotheses, based upon archaeological source material, like ancient structures or artifacts. It should not be confused with primitive technology which is not concerned...
project.
Only fools and horses.
The hang glider scene in Episode no 35 Three for tea was filmed on the western slopes of Butser Hill.