Part of the North Wessex Downs Walking Festival 2024
Hippenscombe Bottom and Fosbury Hillfort
Led by Jemima, the North Wessex Downs Farming in Protected Landscape (FiPL) Officer, this walk takes us up to Fosbury Iron Age Hillfort, where we will be able to enjoy the far-reaching views over the North Wessex Downs and discuss the settlement.
We will walk past areas that have recently had scrub removed to restore the chalk downland and allow conservation grazing.
There will be a chance to discuss farming techniques, with a quick stop to look at the soil in a highly intensive arable rotation and compare it to soil found in permanent pasture.
There are multiple bird seed/pollen nectar mixes, many of which should be in flower. The Estate’s diversification into both game and clay shooting will also be explained and how that helps with the overall conservation across the estate.
Walk leader/organisation: Jemima Sellwood, North Wessex Downs National Landscape