Corfe Castle

Perched on the steep banks of its chalk ridge, Corfe Castle is a stronghold for the plants and animals which make up a rich chalk grassland habitat.

The castle mound has been classified as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance as a good example of a semi-natural habitat.

Grazing by rare breed sheep helps keep the scrub and coarser grasses in check, It helps maintain it in peak condition for wildlife and archaeological interest.

The castle itself supports 102 species of lichen, including four nationally rare and 11 nationally scarce species.

A variety of grass species such as quaking grass, crested dog’s-tail and common bent grow on the mound.

Among them are herbs like common bird’s-foot trefoil, burnet saxifrage, common rock-rose, wild thyme, small scabious, ladies bedstraw, black knapweed, common milkwort, salad burnet, Ploughman’s spikenard and wild clary.

Hairy fruited cornsalad, a tiny rare plant, may be found on the tracks across the mound, while brightly-coloured pyramidal orchids can be seen from June to August.

Within the castle grounds, herbs such as Alexanders, wild marjoram and pellitory of the wall may also be found.

All of the castle's plants are a magnet for butterflies, such as meadow brown, marbled white, small copper, gatekeeper, wall brown, large and small skipper and the common blue.

Look higher, and you may be able to spot jackdaws and Corfe’s magnificent ravens (see below).