Nature reserves, sites of special scientific interest (SSSI), and Cheltenham's National Nature Reserve (NNR)

Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common

Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common lie within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The main aspect of the hill is clearly visible from many parts of Cheltenham. The hill has, therefore, become a cherished landscape feature and recreational area for many of the town's residents and visitors.

Leckhampton Hill location and site information

Location

Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common lie to the south and south east of Cheltenham. Parking is available at Daisybank Road off Leckhampton Road and at Hartley Lane near the hill top. View the location on Google maps.

Site

Areas on Leckhampton Hill have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the biological interest of the unimproved calcareous grassland and for its geological exposures. Historical features on the hill include an Iron Age hillfort and long barrow. Old tramways criss-cross the hill from the days of limestone quarrying and the remains of kilns and quarries are still very much in evidence.

National Nature Reserve notification

Cheltenham Escarpment will be declared as one of the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves on 4 June 2026. The reserve forms part of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Key features of the area are its Jurassic geology, limestone grasslands and associated wildlife. 

Covering an area of 60 hectares, the reserve sits on the thickest sections of Jurassic rocks in Britain. These rocks have been revealed by natural erosion and extensive quarrying during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Cheltenham Escarpment is owned and managed by Cheltenham Borough Council under a Management Plan which looks to conserve and enhance its unique mosaic of grassland, scrub and geological features, and to provide opportunities for access and enjoyment of the Reserve.

Features of interest

The natural outcrops and historic quarries along the west‑facing escarpment provide the thickest single section through the Middle Jurassic Inferior Oolite Group strata in the Cotswolds. This geology tells the story of a time when the Cheltenham area was submerged beneath a warm, subtropical shallow sea around 174 to 165 million years ago. This lead to the deposition of a sequence of yellow-coloured limestones under conditions comparable to those of the modern‑day Bahamas.

The steep escarpment, where these rocks are exposed at the surface, is a relatively young landscape feature shaped over the last 1.6 million years by erosion. Rising to 293 metres at Leckhampton Hill, it offers panoramic views across the Severn Vale, Cheltenham, Gloucester, and even the distant Welsh hills.

The area features a mosaic of habitats, including unimproved limestone grassland, scrub, and woodland. There is an intimate link between the underlying geology and the flora, with dry, shallow, calcareous soils supporting lime-loving wildflowers such as Common Rock Rose, Wild Thyme, and Autumn Gentian. A large variety of orchids also inhabit the site, including fly orchids, bee orchids, and greater butterfly orchids.  

You'll also find a rich variety of insects, with a total of 33 butterfly species recorded. These include Marbled White, Dark Green Fritillary, Chalk Hill Blue, and the rare Duke of Burgundy.

Wildlife

The hill supports a range of habitats, closely linked to the underlying limestone geology. The most important feature of the area is the limestone grassland, teeming with species of plant, animal and insect life. This grassland is home to a host of wildflowers, including many varieties of orchid: the Early Purple, Common Spotted, Musk and Bee orchids to name a few. 

You'll also find areas of scrub, woodland, scree slopes and cliffs. The scrub and woodland provide important habitat for birds, invertebrates and small mammals. Buzzards and kestrels are regularly seen and red kites are now seen more frequently over the site. In 2025 we recorded a breeding pair of sparrow hawks. Foxes, stoats, badgers and rabbits have also been recorded across the site.

The reserve is home to large number of invertebrates, with 33 butterfly species recorded, including Small blue, Chalkhill blue, Dark Green fritillary, and the uncommon Duke of Burgundy.

Reptile populations are well established, with adders, grass snakes, slow worms and viviparous lizards all living here.

We would like to gather more information about the wildlife that visits our parks and open spaces and we are linked up with the Gloucestershire Environmental Records Centre. If you would like to record any sighting of wildlife which you have seen during your visit please visit the link above.

Communication protocol for Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common - 2025

Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC), in collaboration with the Friends of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common (FOLK), has undertaken a review of the existing communication protocol to improve how information is shared with users of the site.

This updated protocol - developed jointly by both organisations - aims to ensure that all stakeholders are kept informed about specific projects and activities taking place on Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common. The protocol below outlines the agreed approach and is designed to cover a wide range of scenarios.

Moving forward, this protocol will be applied to all future works as outlined below.

The communication protocol

Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common is owned and managed by Cheltenham Borough Council. The site is designated as a Site of Scientific and Special Interest and works are needed to maintain the equilibrium of biodiversity and Nature conservation with public use, accessibility and recreational use.

The new protocol is needed to keep FOLK (Friends of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common) and the public informed of one-off projects that take place on the site from time to time that might have a high visual impact, particularly on areas of high footfall which goes beyond what is currently considered routine site maintenance.

What it applies to:

• Substantial tree work, that may include removal such as ash dieback or of non-native invasive species.
• New cattle fencing and walling
• Projects targeted at preserving rare species of plants and animals
• Refurbishment of path surfaces
• Work to preserve geological and archaeological features
• Veteranisation of selected mature trees

What it does not apply to:

• Routine site maintenance tasks carried out annually to preserve the important features of the Site of Scientific Interest and peripheral layback fields (FOLK and Cotswold wardens)
• Management of gorse and scrub
• Grass management
• Cattle movement
• Management of vegetation around archaeological and geological features

How will it work:

• Project is identified internally or through external body
• Project outline brought to FOLK executive committee for discussion/site visit
• Project refined following feedback
• Projects involving on-site contractors would need to be circulated before the funds were available and the specification is finalised. In this instance minimum of six weeks
• The high priority consultation required when works come under the label of large conservation projects/public access particularly in high footfall areas. Minimum six weeks
• Project worked up into detailed proposal and specification
• Funding is sourced
• Project publicised on CBC website/Facebook page
• FOLK Facebook link and official comment
• Project proposal displayed on site with explanation and plans. May need QR code back to CBC website for detail.
• Signs displayed on site minimum of four weeks
• Comments considered, project reassessed/amended if required
• Work commences
• Work completed and posted on CBC and FOLK website/Facebook
• Based on negative feedback from the public or Folk membership, the project will be reviewed by Cheltenham Borough Council green space and public realm manager and the cabinet member for waste, recycling, parks, gardens and green open space. They will consider the comments and feedback. As judged appropriate the project could be cancelled or if all the permissions have been granted and if the project is seen to be of benefit of the site the project would proceed in its original or amended form.

Conservation work parties

The Friends of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common (FOLK) have regular conservation work parties on the third Tuesday, second Thursday and fourth Sunday of every month.

These are attended by the council's community rangers, and volunteers carry out varied work on the hill in line with the management plan. Meet at the Daisy Bank Road car park at 9.30am.

For more information please visit the FOLK work parties webpage or contact the community rangers.

Management plan

A new Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common management plan has been created to replace the previous 2002 plan.

It was written by Abbey Sanders Ecology and commissioned by Cheltenham Borough Council.

The plan was produced in partnership with the Restoring the Cotswolds Escarpment Grasslands committee and Cotswolds National Landscape team (CNL), part funded by National Grid.

The link to the plan can be found below.

There is a separate 5-year work plan that links to the management plan. This will be used as a guide by the volunteers and the council for managing the reserve.

Leckhampton Hill Management Plan - pdf - 9.48 Mb

Grazing of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common

We have partnered with Eddie and Emma from Wades Conservation Grazing, a small family business, to graze the Common using their growing herd of Galloway cattle.

The cattle provide critical grazing that the site needs to flourish and thrive. The way the cattle graze, pulling and tearing at the grass, leaves the vegetation uneven and helps to create a variety of micro-habitats essential to supporting species rich grasslands like those found on the site.

Interacting with the cattle

The cows are very placid and are used to seeing people and dogs, but please take care near them. Please keep your dogs under tight control.

Please be aware that the cows are managed using invisible GPS fence lines, so might not want to walk in a direction you want them to.

In case of an issue please contact:

• Wayne Sedgwick (Senior ranger) - 07733 014743
• Eddie Llewellyn (Grazier) – 07769 654000

Where are the cows?

The cows are fitted with virtual fencing collars, allowing us to manage their grazing better and graze them in the the best places for the site. It also means we can keep the cows off the main footpaths, whenever possible, or restrict their access for short periods. Another advantage is that the collars have GPS locators so we know where they are at all times. This means we can tell you where the cattle are and what virtual field they have access to so you can plan your walk accordingly if you want.

Visit grazingmap.nofence.no to see an interactive map showing where the cows are.

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Funded by the National Grid. Supported by Charlton Kings Parish Council and Friends of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common (FOLK).

Other nature reserves

We are lucky to have such a diversity of green spaces in the town. They are host to a wealth of fascinating wildlife including rare birds and plants.

We're seeking to upgrade all of our nature reserves to Local Nature Reserve (LNR) Status to ensure that they are kept for the benefit of wildlife and biodiversity in Cheltenham.

We would like to gather more information about the wildlife that visits our parks and open spaces and we are linked to the Gloucestershire Centre for Environmental Records. If you would like to record any sighting of wildlife which you have seen during your visit please visit their website for information.

Pilley Bridge nature reserve

Pilley Bridge Nature Reserve is an urban nature reserve in the heart of the southern part of Cheltenham.  It was once part of the Great Western Railway on the Cheltenham to Banbury line but after the closure of this route in the 1960s it was taken over by Cheltenham Borough Council who designated it a kilometre-long, nature reserve.

There is a wide variety of natural habitats in this small area which stretches from the back of the Travis Perkins on Mead Road, under Pilley Bridge on the Old Bath Road, almost as far as Sandy Lane. 

The western part of the reserve runs from Pilley Bridge to the the back of Travis Perkins. The railway embankments form a woodland edge habitat with an understorey of holly and hawthorn and a range of ground flora provide interest across the flowering seasons.  Foxes, badgers and deer have all been recorded using the reserve and a peregrine falcon has also been seen feeding on the site. In 2012 a community orchard was created by the Friends of Pilley Bridge to add to the fruit trees that are already present on site.

The eastern side of the reserve contains a meadow area which leads to a pond which is fed from natural springs. The meadow provides an open area for butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies to feed.

Site management

The site is managed by Cheltenham Borough Council's Community Ranger Service and the Friends of Pilley Bridge. Jointly, these groups implement practical conservation works on site on a monthly basis.

Getting there

Road

Access to the reserve is from either Old Bath Road via the gated entrance and down some steps. There are two access point to the Public Footway which lead to the reserve from Mead Road. Parking is on street only.

Bus

Stagecoach bus route P/Q has bus stops on the Old Bath Road close to Mead Road entrance.

Site map

View a map of the site

 

Griffiths Avenue local nature reserve

Griffiths Avenue Local Nature reserve can be found in the St Mark's area of Cheltenham.

A Victorian stable building and walled garden in over two and a half acres of land, it was part of the old Granleys Estate and the first nature reserve in the borough to receive English Nature's statutory Local Nature Reserve status.

Wildlife

There are two wild flower meadows supporting over fifteen species of butterfly and a wealth of flowers and grasses. A range of small mammals including badgers, foxes and bats have made their homes on the reserve. There is also a varied range of trees including Monterey Cypress and Wellingtonia Sequoia.

Site management

The management plan for this site is currently being amended.

Rangers have carried out seasonal work at Griffiths Avenue over the years with groups from the community service unit of Gloucestershire Probation Service. These have included the construction and maintenance of paths and fences, vegetation clearance, habitat piles and tree care.

If you have any questions please contact the community rangers.

Site map

View a map of the site

 

 

Related Pages

• Parks and open spaces directory
• Leckhampton hill accessible routes