Coulters Dean, named for the blade used in early ploughs to cut through the soil, is a small reserve in Hampshire that is home to some of the South Down’s rarest species. Dianne Mitchell guides us through Coulters Dean, a place that has a been an important site for pioneering ecological studies throughout its history.
Coulters Dean, a Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT) reserve, rests high on the chalk above Buriton, in Hampshire. Situated on the west-facing slope of a dry valley, it comprises 4.9 acres of chalk grassland and 6 acres of semi-natural ancient woodland.