Prescombe Down NNR is a botanically rich downland site consisting of a deep forking coombe (valley) system eroded into the chalk. Main habitats: lowland grassland Features of interest Prescombe Down has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of the species-rich chalk grassland and resident population of adonis blue; the iconic Wiltshire chalk downland butterfly. More recently it was recognised as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), for its grassland but also for its populations of European Protected Species. These are early gentian, a rare annual plant and marsh fritillary butterfly. The reserve is also home to rare butterflies like grizzled skipper and birds such as skylark. Early in spring, Prescombe Down is one of the few places where the the purple early gentian can be seen in large numbers. Later the yellows of horseshoe vetch, rock rose, bird’s foot trefoil and kidney vetch can cover whole areas of the hillside, interrupted by the occasional orchid. The dark purples of devils bit scabious emerge in late summer. In most years, the Adonis blue butterfly can be seen twice a year, once in June and again in August. This butterfly can only survive in areas where horseshoe vetch grows in short grassland. Directions Ebbesborne Wake is also on regional route 20 (Wiltshire Cycleway) of the Sustrans National Cycle Network. The nearest train station that also has a bus service to Ebbesbourne Wake is Salisbury. The closest train station to the reserve is Tisbury A bus service run between Salisbury and Ebbesbourne Wake. See the Traveline south west website for details. The nearest main road is the A30 at Swallowcliffe where minor roads lead south to Ebbesbourne Wake. There is no car park at the site. The reserve is most easily reached on foot via public rights of way from Ebbesbourne Wake, entering via the adjacent access land to the south of the NNR. The Old Shaftesbury Drove is a public by-way running along the northern boundary of the reserve, which connects Shaftsbury and Salisbury. There is currently no access to the NNR where this by-way meets the reserve’s northern boundary. To access the NNR from here walk half a kilometre east along The Old Shaftesbury Drove, where a bridleway heads south through the neighbouring valley of Church Bottom. This is the same public right of way that leads to the access land south of the NNR; before eventually reaching Ebbesbourne Wake. Contact To find out more about the reserve, contact site staff on 07771 944557.