Description:

The reserve covers almost 80 hectares and comprises several distinct sections. The original reserve was a rabbit warren in mediaeval times and forms the reserve's core. It has probably been open downland for many hundreds of years and has an internationally important community of grassland orchids.

Queendown has the usual plants of chalk grassland, and orchids are well represented, particularly the fragrant orchid, with scattered groups of early spider, bee and man orchids. Later in the year autumn lady's-tresses may be found. A good variety of chalk grassland butterflies can be seen in summer, including the Adonis blue, re-introduced in 2002. At the bottom of the bank, there is a colony of rabbits which, together with grazing cattle, help to maintain the short sward, essential for the maintenance of many orchid populations. The West Bank has several patches of fly orchid and white helleborine in the scrub and woodland edges. Some particularly good examples of the many large beech trees on the reserve can be seen in this section.

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