St Catherine's Hill

St Catherine's Hill is a 35 hectare area of heathland and coniferous forest. It is located to the north of Christchurch and is bordered by Town Common Nature Reserve and the Wessex Way (A338). The Hill is home to a large number of important wildlife species and is highly designated.

The site forms part of a larger area of sensitive heathland that is jointly managed for nature conservation by the council, RSPB, Dorset Wildlife Trust and The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC). Other parties involved include the Urban Heaths Partnership who provide supplementary wardens for the site. At 163ft (53 metres) above sea level St Catherine's Hill is the highest area of Christchurch and also boasts some of the most spectacular views.

The area is popular for wildlife watching, dog walking, hiking, cycling and horse riding. Horses and bicycles must keep to statutory bridleways. Downhill mountain biking is an offence; damaging to the sensitive wildlife and not permitted on site.

View the St Catherine's Hill byelaws. 

History

Because of its commanding views of the surrounding area, St Catherine's Hill has most likely been used as a look-out and beacon since prehistoric times. Eleven tumuli or barrows surround the ridges as monuments to the succeeding Bronze age settlers and Iron Age farmers may have built the enclosure just to the south west of the radio mast.

The Hill has also been used as a military training ground. In the last century the Royal Horse Artillery and Dragoons from Christchurch Barracks exercised here and it served again in both World Wars for practice in trench warfare and as a grenade throwing range.

The factors that brought about the loss of so much of Dorset's heathland over the last few hundred years continue to threaten the area. Some of the greatest threats to the St Catherine's Hill heathland today come from the spreading of invasive species across the site. Rhododendron aggressively shades out native heathland species and also changes the soil composition to prevent other plants from growing. Scot's Pine and Maritime Pine were introduced to Dorset heathlands for forestry as early as 1783.

More pines have been planted since then throughout the region as they are the only successful heathland forestry crop. Since 1984 it has been the policy of the council to remove these three species, along with some birch, by selectively thinning across St Catherine's Hill. Between 1961 and 1997, tree cover increased on the site from 25% to 75% and in accordance with current legislation, there must be some appropriate tree removal to improve the internationally rare heathland.

In 2008 The Friends of St Catherine's Hill (FSCH) was established. This group runs a full programme of events relating to the site. Annual membership is £3 per person and events are discounted for members.

In 2009 a Management Plan Steering Group was established, to draw up a new management plan for the future care of St Catherine's Hill and part of the adjacent Town Common. The management plan covers the western slopes and plateau on top of the Hill, as the eastern slopes are fully under the management of ARC and subject to an existing and ongoing management plan. The full St Catherine's Hill and Town Common Management Plan can be viewed here.