An absolutely superb area of unimproved chalk grassland, one of the last remaining fragments of this scale in the county. Also, unlike most other sites which have escaped the plough, much of the Down is relatively flat.

Botanical and invertebrate interest lead the way. Many orchids occur, including Frog, Man, Burnt and Southern Marsh, and other rare plants include Bastard-toadflax and Dwarf Sedge.

Butterflies are exceptional - Adonis and Small Blues, Brown Argus, Marsh Fritillary, Grizzled and Dingy Skipper are all seen regularly, and Clouded Yellow is annual. Moths are also superb, with populations of Small Elephant Hawk-moth, and both Narrow-bordered and Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moths.

Bird life is also very good - Quail, Nightingale, Hobby and Turtle Dove all occur in summer, and Stone-curlew and Montagu's Harrier are sometimes seen in the vicinity.