Ancells Farm and Foxlease Meadows Nature Reserve

Saved from development in the 1980s, Ancells Farm is an important site for its heathland and bog plants, such as bog asphodel and bog pimpernel. The grassland, fen and rush pasture meadows display spectacular wildflowers, including meadow thistle, petty whin and dyers greenweed.

Location

Fleet

Hampshire

GU51 2XF

OS Map Reference

SU 824 557

Know before you go

Size

12 hectares

Entry fee

Donations welcome

Parking information

Parking available at Ancells Community Centre.

Bicycle parking

Not suitable for bicycles.

Grazing animals

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

Walking trails

A short, gravelled path around a small section of the site leading to the boardwalk by the pond.

Access

Train station: Fleet (¾ mile).

Bus stop: Farm Drive (¹⁄3 mile).

Size: 12 hectares.

Paths: Unsurfaced paths, muddy when wet.

Slopes: Level paths.

Gates: Kissing gates and stiles.

Seating: Bench by the pond in Ancells Farm.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

June to September to see lizards on the boardwalk, sundews on the scrapes, dragonflies and damselflies hunting over the pond and beautiful flowering orchids.

About the reserve

Enjoy a changing display of wildflowers, from the pink spikes of lousewort in spring and southern marsh orchid in summer, to the pale purple of devil’s-bit scabious in autumn. Visit between June and September to see lizards on the boardwalk, sundew on the scrapes and beautiful flowering orchids. In summer, enjoy dragonflies and damselflies zipping past. The abundance of flying insects makes this a popular feeding spot for bats.

Special features

This site is part of a much larger area of small, wet fields, which are being managed as part of the Trust’s partnership work with the Ministry of Defence. This reserve is renowned for its variety of flora and fauna. Stonechat and fragrant bog myrtle are abundant all year round.