Visitor Guidelines
Entrance to the
reserve is not restricted, but while the hay
crop is growing in June and July, please keep
to the rights of way. Dogs should be kept under
control at all times of year to avoid disturbing
nesting birds and livestock. During winter the
entire site may be flooded. Take care when walking
near the river as there are numerous steep cliffs.
Description
The reserve consists of two fields; Hampton Meadow, a large area of old, traditionally managed hay meadow, and Big & Little Million Common, a much smaller area of permanent pasture. Hampton Meadow is one of a very few surviving examples of a Lammas meadow (see also Lugg Meadow). Big & Little Million is also a registered common and is grazed all year by livestock. The name comes from a medieval mill that once stood on the Back Brook.
The reserve occupies a triangular section of Lugg Valley flood plain at the confluence of the rivers Lugg and Frome. The whole area is low-lying and floods annually, during which time silt carried by the river is deposited across the plain. These deposits have developed into a fertile, alluvial soil which readily drains each summer because of deep beds of underlying river gravels. The annual hay crop removes large quantities of minerals from the soil, which are replenished by the next winter flood.
The land at Hampton has been a meadow since at least the time of Domesday, and the long continuity of hay-crop management has produced a rich and diverse flora similar to that of the Lugg Meadows. There is the same mix and density of the dominant meadow grasses, including Crested Dog's Tail, Red Fescue, Sweet Vernal grass and Meadow Foxtail. This backdrop is enriched by a tapestry of colourful flowers, including Dandelions, Lady's Smock, three species of buttercup, Pepper Saxifrage, purple Black Knapweed, white Ox-eye daisy, a variety of hawkweeds and large quantities of the scarce Narrow-leaved Water-dropwort.
The reserve has a nesting pair of Curlew in
most years, while Skylarks can be heard singing
over the meadow on sunny days in spring. The
winter floods attract flocks of gulls and ducks
like Mallard, Teal and Wigeon, and occasionally
Bewick's Swans from the Russian Arctic. The
steep banks of the rivers provide nesting sites
for Kingfishers and Sand Martins, while Reed
Buntings can be found among the overgrown willows
bordering the water. There are many fine old
willows on the reserve, including some ancient
pollards. Reed Canary-grass, Bulrush and Branched
Bur-reed are plants to look out for along the
river banks. A walk along the Lugg may be rewarded
by the brief glimpse of an Otter, sightings
of which have become more numerous recently.
On warm days in July, the air above the slow-moving
rivers may be full of the beautiful Banded
Demoiselle damselfly.
Present Management
The trust has now
restored the hay-making regime and the aftermath
is grazed by the Commoner's animals. It is hoped
that the flora will benefit from this change.
Acquisition Details
Freehold bought in 1994 with generous grants from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Lankelly, Hamamelis and Alan Evans charitable trusts.
Part of Hampton
Meadow, the River Lugg and Back Brook are
designated as a Site of Special Scientific
Interest.
Best
time to visit |
Early spring to late summer. | |
Habitat |
Lammas meadow and permanent pasture. | |
Size |
25 hectares (62 acres). | |
Specialites |
Narrow-leaved Water-dropwort (6-8), winter wildfowl, breeding Curlew and Skylark, Otters, White-legged damselfly, Banded Demoiselle damselfly. | |
Parking |
At Hampton Bishop. | |
OS
map |
Explorer 189 | |
Nearby
Reserves |
Common Hill, Lea & Pagets Wood, Lugg Meadow, Nupend Wood, Pentaloe Glen & Convallaria Area, Rudge End Quarry and Wessington Pasture. |
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