Selborne Common, Natural conservation site in Selborne, England
Selborne Common is a protected natural area featuring ancient beechwood forests, chalk-based soils, and grasslands spread across 246 acres. The terrain supports many plant and animal species within its boundaries.
The land was managed during medieval times by Selborne Priory and later passed to Magdalen College, Oxford. The National Trust took over the site in 1932 and has protected it ever since.
The naturalist Gilbert White conducted his research here and made the place known to the scientific world. Visitors today follow the same paths he once used to study the local living world.
The area has multiple walking paths with varying levels of difficulty. Some routes from Selborne village involve steep climbs, while access points from Newton Valence offer gentler terrain.
The highest point, Selborne Hanger, reaches about 680 feet above sea level and creates varied habitats across the site. This elevation change allows rare orchids and protected wildlife to live here.
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