Chawridge Bank

Chawridge Bank

Jim Asher

This sloping old meadow dotted with large anthills has a variety of wild flowers and a wealth of insects.

Location

3 miles north of Bracknell
Berkshire
RG42 6HU

OS Map Reference

SP 892 739

what3words: rocks.patrol.blur
A static map of Chawridge Bank

Know before you go

Size
5 hectares
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Entry fee

No
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Parking information

On A330, 1 mile west of Maiden's Green take Nuptown Lane to sharp right-hand bend, after 25m Hogoak Lane byway is signed. Please park at the end of the byway, making sure you don't block it to farm traffic. Follow byway north for 200m to reserve entrance.

Grazing animals

Yes

Walking trails

Gentle slope; soft ground after rain, uneven with ant hills, gates and steps to bridge

Access

Uneven with ant hills, gates and steps to bridge.

Dogs

Assistance dogs only

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

March to August

About the reserve

An ancient meadow
Chawridge Bank is a small area of old Berkshire grassland. It lies on the west-facing clay slopes of the Chawridge Bourne valley. Adder's-tongue and pepper-saxifrage are just two of the species found here which show it is ancient, unploughed ground.

Rich plant life
Bluebells flower along the northern boundary, and an old boundary hedge has pollarded oaks and some beautiful field maples. Other trees and shrubs include ash, hawthorn and blackthorn. In 2011, the Trust expanded the reserve. The plant life on the extension is particularly interesting with a 'lawn' of devil's-bit scabious and tufts of dyer's greenweed growing on the anthills.

Wealth of insects
The nature reserve has a wealth of insects - a study of dung life uncovered 24 beetle species alone. Look out for the large anthills in the grassland. They take many years to develop and show that the site has not been cultivated. Butterflies include the marbled white and grizzled skipper. Skylarks, green and great spotted woodpeckers, blackcap and lesser whitethroat are among the bird life found here.

Contact us

Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Contact number: 01628 829574
Contact email: info@bbowt.org.uk

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)