Parsonage Down is a 188.6 hectare

Hectare

The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...

 biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Wiltshire

Wiltshire

Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...

, notified in 1971.

The site is a National Nature Reserve

National Nature Reserve

For details of National nature reserves in the United Kingdom see:*National Nature Reserves in England*National Nature Reserves in Northern Ireland*National Nature Reserves in Scotland*National Nature Reserves in Wales...

.

Following the introduction of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, the whole of the site was designated "access land" and is therefore open to public access.

Biological interest

The site has the largest population of Burnt Orchid

Burnt orchid

The Burnt Orchid is a European terrestrial orchid, most common in the mountains. It flowers between April and August depending on the altitude....

(Neotinea ustulata) in northwest Europe.

Source

• Natural England citation sheet for the site (accessed 14 August 2006)

External links

• Natural England website (SSSI information)
• Parsonage Down National Nature Reserve