Castle Bottom NNR, National Nature Reserve in Hampshire, England
Castle Bottom is a nature reserve in Hampshire featuring wetland valleys, open heathland, and woodlands spread across protected land. The site contains acidic streams running through two mire systems, with woodland sections providing shelter for different plant and animal communities.
Evidence of human settlement at the site stretches back thousands of years to prehistoric times. Ancient burial mounds and other archaeological remains show that this area was inhabited and used long before becoming a protected natural site.
The reserve serves as a place where visitors can see how wetland habitats support rare plants and creatures that depend on these specific conditions. People come here to understand the direct connection between the land's natural features and the wildlife that flourishes within it.
The reserve can be explored on foot via walking trails that wind through the different habitats and terrain types. Parking areas are available for visitors, and information signs help with orientation throughout the site.
The site is home to European water voles and Exmoor ponies that graze across the reserve, helping to shape the landscape through their feeding habits. Specialized fungi species thrive in the varied soil conditions created by these different habitat types.
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