Blakehill Farm is a former military airfield which Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is turning back into wildlife-rich hay meadow.
In World War II, Dakotas took off from here carrying troops and equipment to the battlefields of Europe. The old runways are long gone but they can still be traced by the changes in vegetation. Now the grassland is home to brown hare, roe deer, kestrel and skylarks.
Living in the margins, hedgerows, ponds and damp ground are many wildlife species, including bullfinch, lapwing, grass snake and 14 species of dragonfly.
Through the summer, adder’s-tongue fern, great burnet, oxeye daisies, lady’s bedstraw and bird’s-foot-trefoil flower in the grasses. Above the flowers fly small copper, brown hairstreak, common blue and marbled white butterflies. Birds include wheatears, whinchats, stonechats, partridge, barn owls and tawny owls. During winter, the nature reserve often receives sightings of short-eared owls and snipe.
The reserve is very flat and easy to navigate on the tarmac tracks.
A variety of events take place at Blakehill Farm throughout the year including War to Wildlife Walks.
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Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
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Free Admission - Free Admission | Free |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
Blakehill Farm is signposted off B4040, Malmesbury Road, between Minety and Cricklade, adjacent to village of Leigh. From Cricklade drive about 1.3 miles from edge of town. The reserve entrance is on the left about 100 yards after entering Leigh. From Minety drive about 3.2 miles. Reserve entrance is on right about 0.5 miles after the Forester’s Arms pub. For car park follow the signs from the new vehicle access road.
If using bus – Service 50 travels from Cricklade to Cirencester via Leigh and Ashton Keynes. Service 52 travels from Swindon through to Royal Wootton Bassett via Minety. Visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/parkingtransportandstreets
If cycling - Local route from Cricklade goes all the way into Blakehill Farm, with access via Chelworth Industrial Estate. Continue past World War II Memorial Cairns and Purley Farm House. Visit www.sustrans.org.uk
Open Christmas |
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Open New Year |
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* Open all year round, 24 hours a day.
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