Owl box hanging at Kites Hill.

Kites Hill Reserve, Gloucestershire, UK

Kites Hill, originally used as farmland, was donated to the World Land Trust by its owner as a ‘Living Legacy’ in order to ensure its protection it forever, for the benefit of wildlife. Covering 40 acres (16 ha) of beautiful Cotswold countryside (designated an "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty"), the reserve combines both fallow grasslands with native woodland. To the north of the reserve is a stand of beech woodland, which connects to an adjacent reserve owned and managed by the National Trust. This beech woodland has been designated as a "Site of Special Scientific Interest" (SSSI) and was also included on English Nature's "Natura 2000" site list, as part of a "network of the most important nature conservation sites in Europe".

Tree planting at Kites Hill.

It is the intention of  World Land Trust to create a haven for wildlife, and to encourage its return by recreating natural habitats, at Kites Hill. This transformation will involve the extension of the SSSI woodland, the conversion of currently grazed fields to organic status, and encouraging the rehabilitation of butterflies, bats and owls and other species lost to the area, by providing suitable breeding and feeding sites. An education programme will also be set up providing a valuable resource for learning about conservation management. It is hoped that by providing information material, and creating a nature trail, Kites Hill will become a good example of "nature's classroom" which can be used as an education facility and demonstration project on the benefits for conservation.

Thinking of visiting Kites Hill? See this map for directions.