David J Slater David J Slater smaller.jpg "Daneway Banks - David J Slater")
Daneway Banks nature reserve is a wonderful example of limestone grassland and home to the rare large blue butterfly. In spring and summer the banks explode with colour from orchids, rock-rose and cowslips whilst the air buzzes with the sound of bees and the occasional croak from a raven overhead.
The nature reserve is an excellent place to spot butterflies, between June and July you might catch a glimpse of the rare (and once extinct in the UK) large blue butterfly that was reintroduced to the reserve. Other butterflies that are seen regularly on the reserve includes the dark green fritillary, marbled white and small blue.
The rare cut-leaved germander and cut-leaved selfheal flower on Daneway Banks in late summer. One of the most striking features at the reserve are the large ant hills made by the yellow meadow ant. In some parts of Gloucestershire the hills are known as "emmet casts", "emmet" being the old English word for ant.
Daneway Banks is part of the Golden Valley Wildlife Way, which includes Strawberry Banks, Three Groves Wood and Siccaridge Wood nature reserves.
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Species and habitats
- Habitats
- Grassland
- Species
- Yellow Meadow Ant, Large Blue, Raven, Dark Green Fritillary, Marbled White
Nearby nature reserves
- Siccaridge Wood
- 0 miles - Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
- Sapperton Valley
- 0 miles - Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
- Three Groves Wood
- 2 miles - Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust