Quarley Hill Fort facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 3.5 hectares (8.6 acres) |
| Notification | 1990 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Quarley Hill Fort is a very special place located west of Grateley in Hampshire, England. It's officially recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its amazing natural environment. This means it's a protected area where rare or important plants and animals can live safely.
The site covers about 3.5 hectares, which is roughly the size of seven football fields! It's not just important for nature; it also holds history, as it's built around an ancient Iron Age hill fort.
A Special Place for Nature
Quarley Hill Fort is famous for its beautiful chalk grassland. This type of grassland grows on chalky soil and is home to many unique plants. To keep the grassland healthy and help these special plants grow, cattle are allowed to graze here. Their grazing helps to stop taller, common plants from taking over, allowing the smaller, rarer herbs to thrive.
Amazing Plants You Might Find
The chalk grassland at Quarley Hill Fort is full of different kinds of herbs. Some of these plants are quite rare or special to this type of habitat. Here are a few examples:
- Felwort: This plant has lovely purple flowers and is a sign of healthy chalk grassland.
- Small Scabious: You'll see its pretty, pincushion-like flowers during the summer months.
- Dropwort: This plant has creamy-white flowers and fern-like leaves.
- Chalk Milkwort: A small plant with bright blue or pink flowers that loves chalky soil.
- Greater Butterfly-Orchid: This is a beautiful and elegant orchid with white flowers that look a bit like butterflies.
- Bastard Toadflax: A fascinating plant that gets some of its nutrients from other plants nearby.
These plants create a rich and diverse ecosystem, providing food and shelter for many insects and other small creatures.
History of Quarley Hill
Long, long ago, during the Iron Age (which was about 800 BC to AD 43), people built a hill fort on Quarley Hill. A hill fort was a fortified settlement, usually built on top of a hill for defense. People lived inside these forts and used them to protect themselves and their communities.
While the main focus of Quarley Hill Fort today is its natural importance, the remains of this ancient fort remind us of the people who lived here thousands of years ago. It's a place where nature and history come together!
