| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 | |
  Location within Somerset | |
| Location | Avon |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | ST428738 |
| Coordinates | 51°27′37″N 2°49′29″W / 51.46027°N 2.82471°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 25.5 hectares (0.255 km2; 0.098 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1991 |
| Natural England website | |
Walton Common (grid reference ST428738) is a 25.5 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) near the village of Walton in Gordano, North Somerset, notified in 1991.[1]
The common, which is both a Scheduled Ancient Monument and an SSSI, is covered by a Countryside Stewardship agreement with the Countryside Agency. It remains in private ownership, but the Avon Wildlife Trust has a 10-year lease to manage it as a nature reserve. The site has two saucer-shaped round barrows from the Bronze Age, and the Walton Common banjo enclosure, a banjo enclosure from the late Iron Age that may be a univallate hillfort, with associated fields.[2]
Wildflowers found on the common include thyme, marjoram, rock-rose, St John's wort, autumn gentian and violets. Butterflies are particularly notable including common blue, brown argus, grizzled and dingy skipper, green and purple hairstreak, and dark green fritillary. Other insects such as grasshoppers, glow-worms and moths are abundant. Birds identified at the site include; blackcap, whitethroat, buzzard, kestrel and sparrowhawk.[3]
References
- ↑ English Nature citation sheet for the site (accessed 16 July 2006)
- ↑ Historic England. "Slight univallate hillfort, two avenues, saucer barrow, regular aggregate field system and associated earthworks on Walton Common (1007917)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ↑ "Walton Common". Reserves. Avon Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 7 October 2010.