Rodney Stoke SSSI, site of Special Scientific Interest in the Mendip Hills, Somerset
Rodney Stoke SSSI is a protected area located in the Mendip Hills in Somerset featuring ancient woodland and grassland on slopes facing southwest. The site covers about 70 hectares of mixed trees including ash, oak, and lime alongside open grassland that sits on limestone soil supporting rare plants such as purple gromwell.
The site was designated as a protected area in 1957 to preserve its wildlife and plant species. Parts of the woodland were cleared during World War I but subsequently regenerated over the following decades.
The name Rodney Stoke comes from the nearby village and reflects centuries of rural settlement in the Mendip region. Visitors can observe how the landscape has been shaped by traditional land management practices that continue today.
Access to the site is mainly on foot since there are no large parking areas and visitors are asked to park in nearby villages. The trails wind through woodland and grassland across varying slopes, so wear appropriate footwear and allow time to explore at a leisurely pace.
The area is known for marbled white and purple hairstreak butterflies that visitors can watch fluttering among the flowers especially in summer. Bats including pipistrelle and noctule species use tree cavities and hidden crevices in the hillsides for roosting and hibernation.
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