Peascombe

Peascombe © N Hoar
Peascombe nature reserve

Graham Spencer

A peaceful meadow enclosed by beautiful old trees, set on a hillside in a quiet corner of West Dorset

Location

Loders
Bridport
Dorset
DT6 3SE

OS Map Reference

SY4982794373
A static map of Peascombe

Know before you go

Size
3 hectares
z

Entry fee

N/A
P

Parking information

No parking at reserve

Bicycle parking

Yes

Grazing animals

Cattle grazing from April through to November.

Walking trails

Grassland is open access. Links to public rights of way from the northern green lane and adjacent burial ground or make a short loop of the site.

Before you visit, please read our reserve safety and visitor information

Please click here for more information and guidance about dogs on Dorset Wildlife Trust nature reserves.

Access

Steep slope up to reserve entrance via field gate. From the allotments, go through the pedestrian gates. There are no formal paths through the grassland and it is mostly uneven or sloping ground, but visitors can wander through as they wish. The stream is fenced off from the fields but a deep ditch separates the two, with a small culvert giving access between the areas - take extra care crossing as the ground can be wet in the low lying areas. There is no access to the woodland which occupies the steep slopes and it can be very wet and boggy near the stream.

Cattle graze the site at times. Please be aware of the risk of falling branches in or after strong winds and be aware of ticks.

Dogs

On a lead

Please remove all dog mess from site. See above for more information about dogs on nature reserves.

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

spring and summer

About the reserve

Multi-stemmed maples and majestic old sweet chestnut and ash trees enclose this peaceful, sloping pasture. At the centre of this reserve are two small fields of tussocky, dry and damp grassland which provide good structure for invertebrates and small mammals. Bordered to the north by an old green lane with ancient hazel stools, supporting dormice, long-tailed tit and bullfinch; and to the south by a narrow strip of streamside woodland, rich with ferns and opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage. A further strip of woodland covers the slope at the western end of the site.

The wooded sections support a variety of woodland birds including the harbinger of spring – the chiffchaff - while the stream is visited by the secretive otter.

Useful Information
Leave the A35 to follow signage for Uploders. Once in Uploders village, turn left by the Crown Inn to follow signs for Loders. Proceed into Loders and turn right opposite the school, signposted for Nettlecombe and Powerstock. Park on the outskirts of the village and walk along Smishops lane for approximately 200m before entering the reserve up an access ramp on your right-hand side. The reserve can also be accessed on foot via Whetlands Lane track or the footpath running through Loders village, and an informal link to the old railway line.

Contact us

Environmental designation

Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI)
Peascombe Nature Reserve Map

Peascombe Nature Reserve Map