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A small blue butterfly rests on a grass stem, with its wings held closed above its body. The undersides of the wings are a dusky silver-blue, with small black spots

Small blue © Vaughn Matthews

Coulters Dean Nature Reserve

One of the Trust’s smallest reserves, Coulters Dean is made up of broadleaved woodland and chalk grassland. This valued wildlife refuge is maintained by a local volunteer group and supported by the Trust and its own in-house flock of sheep.

Location

1 mile from Buriton
Buriton
Hampshire
GU31 5RX (to the Five Bells pub in Buriton)

OS Map Reference

SU 748 192
A static map of Coulters Dean Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
4 hectares
z

Entry fee

Donations welcome
P

Parking information

Park at Buriton Pond.

Grazing animals

Our sites are grazed all year by livestock. Please follow the signage on site.

Walking trails

Unsurfaced bridleway runs through the reserve, which can be wet and muddy. Gently sloping ground throughout. Gate into grassland has steep 1m slope. Some bare chalk that is slippery when wet.

Access

Contact the Trust for disabled access information.

GU31 5RX takes you to the Five Bell pub in Buriton.
From the A3 just south of Petersfield (travelling both north and south) turn left onto the B2070 towards Petersfield. At the roundabout go straight over for Buriton.

Bus stop: Buriton House (1 mile). Petersfield to Buriton route (Countryliner). Walk towards the village pond then follow the directions below.

Park at Buriton Pond. From the pond take a footpath across the bottom of the meadows behind the church, turning right along an old cart track known as the Milky Way, up onto the South Downs (3/4 mile). When you reach a road turn right and after 150m the reserve entrance is on the bend.

Dogs

Under effective control

No dogs in fenced enclosure due to sensitive wildlife.

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

In the summer this reserve comes to life with clustered bellflower, round-headed rampion and small scabious.

About the reserve

This small woodland and chalk grassland haven is a valued refuge for a number of scarce butterflies and plants. The bridleway running through the reserve links with the South Downs footpaths, which you can follow if you are looking for a longer walk.

Coulters Dean nature reserve is home to small blue butterflies, green hairstreaks and chalkhill blues. The grassland is spectacular in the spring and summer, with beautiful drifts of colour from the wildflowers carpeting the meadow, where you may see up to 11 species of wild orchid. If you look closely, you might see the interestingly named cheese snail, so called because its shell resembles a round loaf of cheese.

Species

Habitat

Contact us

Fiona Haynes
Contact email: fiona.haynes@hiwwt.org.uk

Environmental designation

Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI)
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Location map

Map key

Map Key