Lankham Bottom Butterfly Reserve

Introduction

This lovely downland coombe has sweeping views over unimproved chalk grassland to Cattistock Church. Breeding colonies of Grizzled and Dingy Skippers, Chalkhill Blues and Brown Argus can be enjoyed on the steep slopes while Small Heath, Common Blues and Small Skippers are widespread. The Marsh Fritillary colony has increased in numbers every year under the grazing management organised by Butterfly Conservation.
Day flying moths such as 5 and 6 spot Burnets swarm during the summer with their larva massed on Birds-foot Trefoil during the spring.

How to get there

Lankham Bottom is next to the A37 Yeovil to Dorchester Road in West Dorset. Take the turn to Cattistock signposted at Staggs Folly, Grid Ref. ST612005. A personnel gate is located on the left 200 metres along this road. The main reserve entrance is 500mtres from the A37 on the left down the Cattistock road at grid ref. ST606003. This gate and track should be kept clear at all times as it is used by Wessex Water operational vehicles.
A footpath from Cattistock village enters the west side of the Reserve. Maiden Newton railway station is 3 kms south of the Reserve.

Suggestions to enjoy the Reserve

The transect walk is the best route but for a shorter walk sections 7, 5 and 1 are suggested. For windy days 12 and 13 are best. 12 and 13 are also best for the Marsh Fritillary in May/June.
Flowers from Devils-bit Scabious to Eyebright are on the chalk. Look on the ant hills for Helianthemum and and check the scrub edge for diversity. Rabbits are the short turf managers and badgers have a sett in section 1.

Reserve Manager John Davis.

Lankham Bottom Butterfly Conservation Reserve. Transect by sections

Access: Park at entrance gate without blocking the entrance as access required by
Wessex Water at all times.
Distance: almost 2km in length so minimum duration of about 1hr 45min. Some steep
slopes so moderately demanding.

These notes are best used with a print out of the map:

S1. Starts on entrance trackway, runs down slope parallel to hedge about 10metres away from it. Descend over low bank and turn left to run along its length to rejoining stone track (end). Grizzled Skipper.

S2. From track skirt round the base of scrub and turn uphill through the gap. Sweep over short rabbit grazed turf to join the line of public footpath and follow it right to gorse cleared area (end marker post). Small Heath, Small Copper.

S3. Continue along footpath on uphill side of clearing looping over to downhill side ½ way along and back to entrance (end).

S4. Down across rabbit grazed acidic turf to gap in scrub line (end). Small Heaths.

S5. Along through tall grassland with anthills below scrub line and 5m away from it. Go round bramble thicket and end where tall grassland grades into the base of slope. Small Copper, Grizzled skipper, Dingy Skipper. Marbled White.

S6. Up ‘barren’ slope of rabbit turf and scattered hawthorn shrubs looping round the cleared area at the top before turning down to the base of bramble thicket (end marker post).

S7. Up species rich slope and down alongside sheltered edge of scrub block ending at its base - the head of this valley (end marker post). Grizzled and Dingy Skippers, Chalkhill and Adonis Blues. Brown Argus.

S8. Up slope to just below scrub thicket then turning south to run down and along slope skirting below scrub blocks, following deer/badger path encountered below lowest block but turning off it down the slope to its base through gap between thickets (end marker post). 6-spot Burnet moths.

S9. Follow path along lower edge of scrub thickets, across entrance to ‘clearing’ to end by pair of short Hawthorn trees (end marker post). Green Hairstreak, Small Skippers.

S10. Follow left hand path up slope and across head of ‘spur’ ending section on path running above ‘mini coombe’ which has bare flint patches.

S11.Continue along path but veering off down the slope to end section beside isolated clump of scrub (end marker post). Marbled White, Marsh Fritillary, Chalkhill Blue.

S12. Follow mid-line of west facing slope to the head of this mini-coombe ( marker post). Marsh Fritillary, Chalkhill Blue

S13. Return along bottom of mini-coombe past scrub thickets ending at large water pipe. Marsh Fritillary. Dingy Skipper.

S14. Follow grassy vehicle track up slope to rejoin stone track (end). Marbled White.

S15. Back up stone track to starting point.

Please send in records of day flying moths and butterflies to Dorset County Recorder.