Heath Hill Farm facts for kids

Heath Hill Farm is a really special place in Wiltshire, England. It's a large area of land, about 20.73 hectares, which is like 20 big football fields! This farm is so important that it's been named a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (often called an SSSI). This means it has rare plants or animals, or special geology. It became an SSSI in 1997. Heath Hill Farm is part of the beautiful Stourhead estate. It's also found within the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is a protected area known for its amazing landscapes.

Heath Hill Farm: A Special Place

Heath Hill Farm is mostly made up of grassy meadows and fields where animals might graze. These fields are separated by tall trees and thick hedges. The farm is surrounded by woodlands, which were once part of the ancient Selwood Forest.

The Ground Beneath Your Feet

The ground at Heath Hill Farm is made of two main types of rock: Gault Clay and Upper Greensand. Where these two different layers of rock meet, something cool happens! Many small springs bubble up from the ground. These springs then join together to form a small stream.

Birthplace of a River

This little stream flows through Heath Hill Farm. It's very important because it's one of the main starting points, or "headwaters," of the River Stour. This river flows all the way to the sea!

Amazing Plants and Life

Because of the special way the water flows and the different types of ground, Heath Hill Farm has a really unusual and rich variety of plants. You can find many kinds of grasses and herbs here. There are also different types of sedges and rushes, which are plants that love wet places. This makes the farm a fantastic home for many small creatures and a great place to study nature.