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Information About

Butser Hill




  Photo Butser_Hilljpg
  Caption Butser Hill from the base of the public Bridleway near the A3 Road
  Elevation 270&nbsp M (886&nbsp Ft )
  Location South Downs , England
  Prominence 158&nbspm
  Topographic Map OS ''Landranger'' 197
  Grid Ref UK SU716203
  Listing Marilyn


Butser Hill is a Chalk hill, the highest summit on the South Downs and the second highest point in Hampshire . Although only 270  M (886  Ft ) high, it qualifies as one of England 's Marilyns . It is located within the borders of the Queen Elizabeth Country Park , situated about three Mile s south of the historic Market Town of Petersfield, Hampshire .

Most of the park, including Butser Hill, is designated a Site Of Special Scientific Interest and since 1998 as a National Nature Reserve . At 2.312 km&2 (0.9 square miles) this is large when compared against other lowland terrestrial SSSIs and is the second largest area of Calcareous Grassland in Hampshire .

Butser Hill SSSI has been proposed by the Government as a Special Area Of Conservation (SAC), recognising its importance from a Europe an perspective.
This is due to the rich variety of Flora and Fauna located upon the hill. Butser Hill is in the top 20 Hampshire chalk grassland sites for its rich vascular flora, and is the richest of any Hampshire chalk grassland site in terms of its Bryophyte (125  Species ) and Lichen (82 species) flora. As well as this, over 30 species of Butterfly have been recorded, including populations of Duke Of Burgundy and the Silver-spotted Skipper , making the area an important conservation area for many butterfly species.


SEE ALSO


Butser hill is near Butser Ancient Farm , the site of an archaeological experiment.