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Prestbury Hill Butterfly Reserve

This two part reserve, The ‘Bill Smyllie Reserve' and ‘the Masts Field', is made up of 32 hectares of limestone grassland high on the Cotswold esscarpment to the east of Cheltenham. There are fine views across the Severn Vale.

The southern half of the reserve, known as the Bill Smyllie Reserve, extends southwards as a narrow valley containing thickets of scrub. It is separated by a beech plantation from the northern half of the reserve, known as the Masts Field, which is within the Cleeve Common Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Butterfly highlights: Duke of Burgundy Large Skipper Brown Argus Chalkhill Blue Small Blue Green Hairstreak Dark Green Fritillary Marbled White

Grayling Small Copper Small Heath Speckled Wood Comma Small Tortoiseshell Peacocks Meadow Brown

Moth highlights: Day flying Chimney Sweeper and Cistus Forester.

Owned by Butterfly Conservation.

Location: From the A40 east of Cheltenham turn off into Whittington village. Turn west at the T-junction, then north-west just past Whalley Farm and follow the road northwards. The minor "no-through road" to the communications masts on the southern edge of Cleeve Common gives access to both areas of the reserve.

Grid reference: SO 992 242 (southern half); SO 992 248 (northern half).

 

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