Barrington Hill NNR
Barrington Hill NNR comprises four meadows surrounded by well established hedges on gently sloping clay-rich soils. It represents a large area of species-rich unimproved neutral grassland, which is now rare nationally.
County: Somerset
Main habitats: Lowland Grassland
Area: 18 ha
Site map: Nature on the Map
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The site is particularly notable for its abundance of rare French oat-grass, green-winged orchid and adder's tongue. The hedgerows (some with large oaks) contribute to the diversity of the site.
Local butterflies include common blue, meadow brown, speckled wood, brimstone and orange tip.
To maintain the grassland, herbage is removed from each field by a late hay cut. The aftermath growth is then grazed.
The best time to visit is between early May and early July.
Location and access
Barrington Hill is 2 km west of the A358, midway between the villages of Windmill Hill and Bickenhall (1 km to the south east and north west respectively).
By car, access to the site is via minor roads from the A358. The entrance to the site is near Barrington Hill Farm on the minor road from Bickenhall to Horton village.
The nearest train station is in Taunton. Bus services from Taunton along the A358 to local villages are provided by First Group.
Facilities
The nearest toilet and refreshment facilities are in local villages.
