LNR Type: Meadow Grassland

County: Wiltshire

EN Local Team: Wiltshire Team

Year of Declaration: 2004

Declaring Authority:  Swindon Borough Council

Area: 150 acres

How to Find Barbury Castle

Map showing the location

Barbury Castle Country Park lies south-west of Chiseldon. From M4 Junction 15, follow the A346 towards Marlborough until you see signs for 'Chiseldon'. Then follow the signs for 'Barbury Castle'.

Barbury Castle is situated on the northern edge of the Marlborough Downs the site lies within the Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The principal focal points are the Iron Age hill fort and its fantastic meadow grassland.

Noted as an ancient monument the hill fort stands exposed atop the Ridgeway and gives commanding views over the Downs.  Covering approximately 11 acres it consists of double ramparts, a ditch and two entrances.

The sides of the fort and the surrounding slopes within the Country Park and Local Nature Reserve have very thin nutrient poor soil on underlying chalk, which has created unimproved chalk grassland.  Now rare due in part to improving the soil for agricultural purposes this type of habitat accounts for less than one percent within the whole of the British Isles.

Unimproved chalk grassland provides one of the most diverse floral habitats in the country and during the summer months a sea of grasses and flowers welcomes the visitor.  

This in turn attracts countless insects including moths, butterflies and bees.

Barbury Castle Local Nature Reserve is one of a number  of sites managed by Swindon Services Rangers Team

If you would like to become involved in helping to preserve this site and other habitats within Swindon please click onto the following link.

Volunteer Rangers

For information on 'Nature for All' events organised by the Rangers either click on the following link or contact us at the address below

Rangers Events

Further Information/Contact

For further information please contact us:

Ranger Team
Coate Water County Park
Marlborough Road
Swindon
SN3 6AA

Ranger Office Tel: 01793 490150

Swindon Borough Ranger Team, caring for your parks and open spaces