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Hackpen, Warren & Gramp's Hill Downs facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Oxfordshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 71.4 hectares (176 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Hackpen, Warren & Gramp's Hill Downs is a very special natural area in Letcombe Bassett, Oxfordshire. It covers about 71.4-hectare (176-acre) of land. This area is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it is protected because it has rare plants and animals.
The site is made up of three separate hills. These hills have a special type of grassland called chalk downland. This kind of habitat is now quite rare in the Berkshire Downs area. Many years ago, this site was known as Hackpen Hill and Crowhole Bottom.
Many different kinds of butterflies live here. Scientists have counted eleven types of butterflies. These include the beautiful chalkhill blue, the brown argus, and the marbled white. From these hills, you can see amazing views of the countryside.
Contents
Exploring the Downs
The site is divided into three main parts. Each part has its own unique plants and features.
Gramp's Hill Down
Gramp's Hill Down is the part furthest to the east. It is also the closest to the village of Letcombe Bassett. The main grass you will find here is called upright brome. This area is rich in many different herbs. Some of these include yellow rattle, chalk milkwort, and kidney vetch.
Warren Down
The middle part of the site is called Warren Down. Its eastern half also has a lot of upright brome grass. You can find herbs like bulbous buttercup and salad burnet here. The western half of Warren Down has mostly meadow grass. There are also bare patches of ground. These bare spots are often caused by rabbits digging. Plants that like disturbed ground, such as henbane, grow in these areas.
Hackpen Down
At the western end of the site is Hackpen Down. This is the largest part of the area. It has many different slopes and directions. The main grass here is red fescue. You can also see herbs like horseshoe vetch and common rockrose. A narrow strip on the eastern side has small trees like hawthorns and elder bushes.
Ancient History at Hackpen Hill
There is an old burial mound near Hackpen Down. It is called the Hackpen Hill bowl barrow.
What is a Bowl Barrow?
A bowl barrow is a type of ancient burial mound. It was built during the Bronze Age, thousands of years ago. This barrow is about 21 metres wide and 1.4 metres high. It was built using earth dug from a ditch around it. This ditch is now mostly filled in.
Discoveries at the Barrow
There is a dip at the top of the barrow. This was probably made by people digging into it a long time ago. These people were called antiquarians. They were interested in old things. However, there are no records of what they might have found. This bowl barrow is a Scheduled monument. This means it is a very important historical site and is protected by law.
Visiting Hackpen, Warren & Gramp's Hill Downs
You can visit Gramp's Hill Down by following a footpath. This path is called Apple Pie. It starts from Holborn Hill in Letcombe Bassett. The entire site is also located just north of The Ridgeway. The Ridgeway is a very old and long walking path. You can get to Hackpen Down from The Ridgeway.