About the reserve

Eaglehead and Bloodstone copses form a splendid ancient woodland, home to red squirrels, dormice and a variety of bat species. In spring the woodland comes to life with primroses, wood anemones, bluebells and strange but beautiful toothworts. During the summer silver-wash fritillaries and white admiral butterflies can be seen fluttering in the glades.

Where the reserves meet is an area of flower-rich grassland, which attracts a myriad of butterflies – a remnant of what was once very common along the chalk ridge. This area is also home to a small flock of Wildlife Trust Hebridean sheep, as well as autumn gentians and chalk hill blue butterflies.

Legend has it that the name Bloodstone came about after an ancient battle that turned the stones in the stream red with the blood of the fallen. In fact, it is an alga that turns the stones red!