Walton and Ivythorn Hills, Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset, England
Walton and Ivythorn Hills are protected limestone hills in Somerset featuring calcareous grasslands, scrubland, and coppiced woodland. The site covers approximately 35 hectares and forms part of the broader Polden Hills geological formation.
The site received its protected status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1953. The National Trust took ownership of the freehold in 1988 to secure long-term conservation.
A 1977 Free Festival on Ivythorn Hill gathered 3,000 people for summer solstice celebrations before local authorities intervened to disperse the gathering.
The area is accessible through marked footpaths that wind through the limestone formations. Spring and summer are the best times to visit when the pathways are easiest to walk.
Between 2011 and 2013, conservation efforts focused on boosting populations of the Large blue butterfly through targeted wild thyme planting. Specific grazing practices proved essential for restoring this rare insect species.
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