What is "hartslock"

Hartslock Nature Reserve is an section of the much larger Hartslock SSSI near Goring-on-Thames, south Oxfordshire, England. The reserve is primarily south-facing chalk downland surrounded by thick, ancient hedges and narrow tracts of mixed yew and deciduous woodland.

The site has a very rich diversity of species characteristic of the habitat, including:

:*Monkey orchids ( Orchis simia), lady orchids ( Orchis purpurea) and the hybrid between both species

:*rare plants such as bastard toadflax ( Thesium humifusum), downy-fruited sedge ( Carex filiformis), dodder and slender bedstraw ( Galium pumilum)

:* Dingy skipper (Erynnis tages), grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae) and green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) butterflies

:*Club-tailed dragonfly ( Gomphus vulgatissimus) is a frequent visitor in May, flying up from the Thames.

:* Ephemera lineata, a rare mayfly also swarms in thousands on the site during the mating season.

:* Mecyna flavalis, a rare day-flying moth, is seen commonly in July.

Hartslock is open to the public throughout the year. Dogs should be kept on a lead because livestock is often kept on-site.