High on the southern slopes of the Mendip Hills, just 2 miles south east of Cheddar, Draycott Sleights enjoys commanding views towards Exmoor in the west and across the Bristol Channel to South Wales.
Sleight is an old Somerset word for sheep pasture, and grazing here continues as it has for hundreds of years. In the past, some of the land was ploughed for agriculture - and there is evidence of small-scale quarrying.
At ground level, some 200 species of plants have been spotted on this steep stretch of limestone grassland. As well as the grasslands rich in wild flowers, the reserve also features some small areas of woodland and scrub.
Beautiful bee orchids, so called because of their resemblance to bees, are amongst the stunning array of flora and fauna to enjoy at Draycott in spring and summer, including pale flax, spring cinquefoil, autumn gentian and dwarf thistle.
Blue butterflies are typical of this sort of habitat, so keep your eyes peeled from the Chalkhill blue and small blue if visiting in early summer. Skylark and meadow pipit are the most commonly seen summer birds, while flocks of linnet and goldfinches can be seen in autumn and winter. Whilst Hobby, peregrine, sparrowhawk, kestrel and merlin have also been seen to hunt over the reserve, which is also home to little and tawny owls.
Adders and the occasional slow worm can be found basking on the slopes in summer. The distinctive summer sounds of crickets can be heard and grasshoppers are plentiful and include the nationally scarce rufous grasshopper.
Both lesser and greater horseshoe bats may be seen hunting at dusk along with badgers. Boxing brown hares can be seen in spring as the usually shy animals burst into the open.
This geocache has been placed to celebrate the Magnificent Meadows of the Mendip Hills and there are 7 others which have been placed on Meadow nature reserves in the area.
The cache is a small tuper ware container and includes some stickers, pin badges and information on the project.
Thanks for visiting Draycott Sleights, we hope you have enjoyed your time here!
This cache is placed with the permission of the reserve manager of the Somerset Wildlife Trust.