Passfield Common and Conford Moor

Passfield Common in spring

Passfield Common is made up fragments of heath, fens and woodland which lie around the hamlets of Passfield and Conford. It divides into two areas, Conford Moor and Hollywater Green.

Conford Moor

Commoners are known to have grazed their cattle on Conford Moor from the Middle Ages to the 1960s. Sinze grazing stopped, scrub has encroached and the wetland has been drying out. To preserve the fen and heathland, we're now controlling the growth of scrub by mechanical means.  

Conford Moor, Hampshire
Conford Moor, Hampshire
Conford Moor, Hampshire

The geology underneath the land here creates the unusual combination of alkaline fen and acidic valley mire. The peaty habitat is an excellent home for many plants and invertebrates.  

You might spot Marsh helleborine, Bog bean or a Southern marsh orchid. In late July, you might be lucky enought to see the shimmering light of glow-worms.  

Southern Marsh Orchid
Purple orchid
Southern Marsh Orchid

Hollywater Green

At Hollywater Green there is another fen which is a special place for wildlife. It is grazed by cattle and without grazing it would soon turn to woodland and smoother the wetland vegetation.  

Looking at the den, it is easy to imagine what the area would have looked like in prehistoric times, with lush vegetation grazed by native animals like wild cattel, elk and deer.