Overview
Ham Hill is full of wildlife, with over 2,300 different plants and animals living across the site.
In summer, the wildflower meadows are a lovely place to explore. You can see orchids, yellow rattle and other flowers, hear crickets and skylarks singing, and spot butterflies drifting between the grasses. Swifts and swallows can often be seen flying low as they hunt for insects.
Other grassy areas support special plants like wild thyme and birds‑foot trefoil. These are great places to look for butterflies such as common blue, green hairstreak and skippers.
The woodlands
The woodlands are home to many birds, including nuthatches, treecreepers and both green and great spotted woodpeckers. On warm days, you may hear buzzards calling overhead. If you’re lucky, you might also spot a roe deer or a fox near the woodland edges.
At dusk
At dusk, bats begin to appear. You may see pipistrelles feeding along woodland paths, and larger bats like noctules flying over the meadows. If you stay a little longer, keep an eye out for glow‑worms shining in the grass.
Find out more
Visit the noticeboard at the Visitor Centre to find out about recent wildlife sightings.