The current steps, installed nearly 30 years ago, have deteriorated significantly and now require frequent safety checks and repairs. Their condition has not only made access more difficult but has also led some visitors to stray from the path, creating ‘off-piste’ routes that damage the site’s fragile chalk grassland and has put the historic monument at further risk of erosion.
Encouraging visitors to stay on a single, managed path will help protect the site’s wildlife and habitat, as Jayne Chapman, Senior Nature Recovery Manager (Central Rivers and Downs) explains: “When steps become difficult to use, people often take alternative routes, which can damage the fragile chalk grassland and erode this important archaeological site. The reserve’s many chalk grassland plants and butterflies are less likely to be disturbed when visitors remain on the steps rather than creating new, unsanctioned paths.”
The new steps will provide a safe, slip-resistant route for visitors, with timber treated with a built-in anti-slip coating. This design ensures they remain durable and secure for decades, even in wet weather, reducing the risk of slips and trips on the steep hill.
They have also been designed for durability and will have an expected lifespan of at least 30 years. This will reduce the need for repeated repairs and ensure that this historic landscape, which includes the Iron Age hillfort - which has been placed on Historic England’s at Risk Register due to reasons including erosion - can continue to be enjoyed safely by future generations.
Jayne added: “St Catherine’s Hill is one of Winchester’s most treasured wild places. It is home to a wide range of butterflies including the Chalkhill blue, Adonis blue and Silver-spotted skipper, as well as Frog orchids, Bastard toadflax, along with a variety of chalk grassland invertebrates.
“It attracts families and walkers alike, as well as groups who enjoy its wide views and wildlife. We believe that annual visitor numbers may now far exceed the 60,000 - 100,000 recorded in 2014, reflecting the city’s growth and its popularity as a green space.
“The new stronger, safer steps, will safeguard St Catherine’s Hill for decades, allowing people to enjoy its views and wildlife while protecting its fragile biodiversity and archaeology.”
The works are expected to finish by November 2025. During this period, sections of the existing steps and bridleway will be temporarily closed. To protect the site during construction, all materials are being carried by hand up and down the hill. This careful approach prevents damage from vehicles and reduces disturbance to the wildlife on the chalk grassland.
A small buffer zone on the wildflower meadow is being used to store materials. This temporarily pauses new growth, minimising disturbance to wildlife - the meadow will naturally recover next season. The Trust also hopes to install an ‘Eco Post Counter’ at the foot of the steps, which will help track visitor activity. The Trust would like to thank visitors for their patience during this essential project.
The project is supported by Winchester College as landowner and delivered with the necessary consents from Historic England, Natural England, and the South Downs National Park Authority.
It also aligns with the South Downs National Park Management Plan: improving public access whilst conserving heritage and balancing conservation priorities to protect the hill for future generations.
Funding was provided from the Levy South Downs Natural Park Authority’s Community Infrastructure Levy, along with a gift in the Will of a lady who was keen to help others enjoy wildlife and wild spaces. The Trust is very grateful to both.
