Danebury Hill facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 13.7 hectares (34 acres) |
| Notification | 1984 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Danebury Hill is a special place in Hampshire, England. It's known for its amazing nature and ancient history. This hill is home to a very old fort from the Iron Age, called Danebury Hillfort. It's also protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its rare plants and wildlife.
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Discovering Danebury Hill
Danebury Hill is located north-east of a village called Nether Wallop. It covers about 13.7 hectares, which is roughly the size of 20 football fields! The hill is part of the larger Danebury Hillfort Local Nature Reserve.
Why is Danebury Hill Special?
Danebury Hill is a "Site of Special Scientific Interest," or SSSI for short. This means it's a protected area because of its important wildlife, plants, or geology. The "biological" part means it's special for its living things.
- Rare Plants: The hill has a unique type of grass called chalk grassland. This grass grows on chalky soil and is full of different herbs and wildflowers.
- Grazing Animals: Rabbits and sheep help keep the grass short. This is important for the special plants to grow well.
- Juniper Bushes: You can also find areas with mixed bushes and juniper plants. Juniper is a type of evergreen shrub.
Amazing Wildflowers
Some of the rare and beautiful flowering plants you might spot here include:
- The scarce burnt-tip orchid
- Field fleawort
- Frog orchid
These plants are very important and need to be protected.
Danebury Hillfort: A Look Back in Time
The gently sloping land of Danebury Hill surrounds an ancient hill fort. This fort, called Danebury, was built during the Iron Age, which was thousands of years ago. Hillforts were like ancient towns or strongholds where people lived and protected themselves.
Studying Danebury Hillfort helps us learn about how people lived in Britain a very long time ago. It's a fascinating part of the hill's history, adding to its importance as a special place.
