Perryfields Reserve looking west. Photo: Bernard Franklin
Location
Access
The site lies above the Museum car-park, on western side of Pennsylvania Road, Easton, on the Isle of Portland. Take the A354 onto Portland and through Easton. Continue along Wakeham to its end, - the public car park is on the right hand side of the road opposite Pennsylvania Castle. Walk up the steps onto the reserve.
Perryfields - steps forming entrance from the car park. Photo: Bernard Franklin About the site
The limestone grassland of this site provides a rich array of wildflowers including birds-foot trefoil, kidney vetch and horseshoe vetch. These are good for butterflies and for other insects such as the Grey Bush-cricket. The sheltering copse of sycamore and ash trees and the scrub-covered slopes down to the disused railway track provide roosting places for insects and shelter for birds, particularly tired migrants arriving on Portland. The sheltered tall grass is one of the best sites on the island for glow worms.
Worked on since 1998, and part of the Bottom Coombe Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) complex. Management is carried out to stop the scrub encroaching onto the grassland, particularly non-native plants like Cotoneaster horizontalis which poses a serious problem.
There may be guided walks and conservation work you can join on this reserve: see our Events page.
Habitat and features
1.2 hectares (c. 3 acres) of infilled quarry with a limestone cap.
What to see
Butterflies
Moths
Four-spotted, Six-spot Burnet, Cinnabar, Portland Ribbon Wave, Beautiful Gothic, Valerian Pug
Other species
Warblers, Green Woodpecker, Raven, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Glow Worm
Photo gallery
Click thumbnails to view full-size images.
Perryfields Reserve looking north. Photo: Bernard Franklin
Perryfields - steps down to the car park. Photo: Bernard Franklin
Ownership