Photo 1 - Looking West Along Broughton Down With Round Barrow In The Distance

Highlights

Unimproved chalk downland nature reserve managed by Hampshire Wildlife Trust

Good range of chalk downland butterflies, with resident species including Silver-spotted Skipper and Chalkhill Blue.

One of few sites in Hampshire where the Adonis Blue can be found, albeit in low numbers

Site is also a designated SSSI status and is of archaeological interest with ancient droveway and round barrow

Description

Broughton Down (location map)  is a fine example of unimproved chalk downland lying on north-east facing escarpment which provides fine views over the Test Valley. It is located several miles west of Stockbridge, close to the border with Wiltshire. The down is fringed by mature woodland including impressive stands of beech at its eastern end, and is bisected by a small wooded valley. Broughton Down is managed by Hampshire Wildlife Trust as a Nature Reserve and is also a designated SSSI taking into account the good range of chalk habitats represented. 

In terms of butterfly species, Broughton Down is noted in particular for its colonies of Chalkhill Blue and Sliver-spotted Skipper but it also possesses a small colony of Adonis Blue. In addition to common species, other key species which may be encountered include Brown Argus, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper and Dark Green Fritillary.

The down is most easily approached from Broughton village to the east or from the north along a long and rather bumpy track. My preference is to approach from the village, parking at the end of Buckholt Road (click here) and continuing on foot up the hill, skirting Smiths Plantation and then along the track at the top of the down. After about ~500m, bear right at a display board to enter the down via a gate (here) to the west of the wooded valley. Many species can be found on the open downland slope including Silver-spotted Skipper and Chalkhill Blue. However, if you continue working your way westwards (photo 1 above) you will reach a gate into the most westerly section of the down which includes the round barrow known as "Plum Pudding". Beyond the round barrow there is a sheltered flower rich gully (photo 2) and a narrow "spike" of grassland pointing south. The Adonis Blues tend to be found in this western section - look in the gulley or on the "spike".  However their flight period, bearing in mind this is a very small colony, can be short, perhaps as  little as two weeks, so timing is critical.

Photo 2 - Sheltered Gulley At Extreme Western End

The section of Broughton Down to the east of the wooded valley has similar habitat to the western part but, being smaller, has less variety of habitat and fewer species, although Silver-spotted Skipper, Chalkhill blue and common species can be found.