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Ringmoor and Turnworth Down is a National Trust property; a 130 acre nature reserve which includes the extensive remains of an Iron Age hill fort and associated field and road systems.
This unique tract of historic landscape is one of Dorset's hidden treasures. It lies between the villages of Turnworth and Okeford Fitzpaine, on the north side of Bulbarrow hill, near Blandford. A bridle path runs along the southern edge of the reserve, however the public are allowed access to all 130 acres.
The reserve is designated by Dorset Wildlife Trust as a Site of Nature Conservation interest, noted for its species rich chalk and neutral grassland, home many rare plants; as well as its ancient wood pasture habitat, full of veteran trees, rides and glades, fungi and saproxillic invertebrates (e.g. wood eating insects such as beetles and wasps). It is also designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument because of the extensive remains of Iron Age occupation by Dorset's celtic "Durotrige" tribe (1500BC - 500AD).
Click on map to enlarge.
The whole site is divided into 3 fields which relate roughly to three aspects of the site's interest.
The Common - ancient wood pasture
Ringmoor - Iron Age settlement
Turnworth down - wildflower rich chalk downs
See also Conservation Management and Grazing
The Common - ancient wood pasture
This is the field where you enter the reserve on the bridle path from
the road. This is a rare and significant example of "Wood Pasture"
habitat. Grazed woodlands with open glades, scattered trees and areas
of thicker woodland create a classic landscape which is particularly important
for veteran trees, fungi, bats, birds and saproxillic (wood eating) invertebrates.
On The Common the grassland in many of the glades is rich in plant species
reflecting both chalk and neutral soils.
The name "The Common" gives a clue to how the whole site may have evolved during the middle-ages, and why the habitats and archaeology have not been lost to more intensive agriculture. The wood appears to have been managed to produce a range of timber products. There are areas of hazel coppice, abundant ash, oak and holly. Sweet chestnut has also been introduced, along with conifers (the National Trust have removed most of these). Given several depressions resembling chalk or flint quarries across the Ringmoor and the Down we could conclude the area was seen as local common resource for wood, chalk and flints for building, as well as grazing, which created the wood pasture. It may be this use as a common resource that has helped protect the archaeology in the area from the plough during the last 500 years.
There is a dew pond in the Common; this is a clay lined pond to catch
water running down the hill. These man made ponds would have made summer
cattle grazing possible on well drained chalk hills that would otherwise
have been limited to sheep grazing (sheep can survive for long periods
with little or no drinking water).
Ringmoor (as the bridlepath emerges from the Common on the top of the plareau) is most significant for its archaeological interest, although this field is also a fantastic wildlife habitat with many scattered trees and scrub and species rich grassland. Ringmoor field is a Scheduled Ancient Monument comprising the "Ring"; a fortified central farmstead, along with extensive remnants of the associated field boundaries and roads - see the black and white aerial photographs in the slide show.
Most of the original earthworks on and around Ringmoor probably date
from between 1000BC to 500AD. It would have been inhabited by Celtic people
the Roman's called the Durotriges (Dorchester and Dorset derive their
name from these people). The Durotriges were one of the Celtic tribes
living in England prior to the Roman invasion of Britain. The tribe lived
in modern Dorset, south Wiltshire and south Somerset. After Roman conquest,
their main towns became the modern Dorchester, previously Durnovaria,
and the modern Ilchester, previously Lindinis
The Durotriges were a confederation of a number of tribes, as they were
governed by numerous monarchies simultaneously reigning. They were one
of the few groups that issued coinage before the Roman conquest. These
coins were rather simple and had no inscriptions. They provide no useful
evidence about monarchs or rulers. Nevertheless, the Durotriges represented
an organized society, based in the farming of lands surrounding and controlled
by strong hill forts that were still in use in 43 AD. Dorset has many
well known pre-Roman hillforts including Maiden Castle, Eggardon Hill,
Hod Hill, Hambledon Hill, Lamberts Castle, Badbury Rings and Pilsdon Pen;
Turnworth is one of many smaller fortified farmsteads. Not surprisingly,
the Durotriges resisted Roman invasion; the historian Suetonius records
some fights between the tribe and the second legion Augusta, then commanded
by Vespasian. By 70 AD, the tribe was already "Romanised" and
securely included in the Roman province of Britannia.
In addition to the farmstead and field boundaries there are a number
of large hollows across the sites, most of which appear to be chalk and
flint quarries in use until the middle ages at least, it is possible that
some of them are a lot older. Beyond the Scheduled Monument on Ringmoor
you can also find strip lynchets and chalk pits on Turnworth Down, and
extensive banks and ramparts throughout The Common. Turnworth has not
been studied and documented formally and therefore much of what is understood
about Turnworth is simply assumed based on the better studied local hillforts
of Hambledon and Hod hill.
To find remnants of Iron Age and mediaeval landscape over such a large area in one place is very unusual. Turnworth is even more remarkable because so much of the remains are on flat fertile ground which would have been easily cultivated and destroyed by the plough, as has been the case over most of the English countryside. Elsewhere the field boundaries and hedgerows we are now familiar with are often the result of "enclosure" since the 18th century.
North of the Common and Ringmoor lies a 3rd field which is not on the public bridleway but is open to the public. This is called Turnworth Down, and it is really worth incorporating this field into your walk. These "un-improved" chalk downs are some of the most exciting of habitats for botanists and flower lovers in the UK, and Turnworth Down is no exception. From April when the first cowslips and violets bloom through to September when the last of the scabious go to seed, this field is awash with wildflowers and insects. The peak of flowering is in late June and early July when the widest range of flowering plants including many orchids can be seen. This chalk flora spreads throughout The Common and Ringmoor, although as the soils become more neutral in pH, a slightly different suite of flowers, with a smaller range of species, is evident.
Herb species to look out for include salad burnet, birds foot trefoil, lady's bedstraw, rough hawkbit, cowslip, common spotted orchid, early purple orchid, pyramidal orchid, small scabious, pignut, black knapweed, eyebright, agrimony and harebell.
Whilst on Turnworth Down you may notice further archaeological evidence;
terraces or "strip lynchets", and amongst the woods at the top
of the down a large chalk pit.
Both grasslands and woodpasture habitats are created and maintained by extensive livestock grazing, which keeps grasslands open by mowing off brambles and saplings and prevents scrub invading and subsequent succession or the development of dense woodland. It also prevents the development of thick swards of grasses like cocksfoot, and keeps the grass more open to allow herbs and wildflowers to thrive. However the habitats are equally sensitive to over-grazing which would damage trees and woodland and reduce the diversity of flowering plants. Overstocking would also cause poaching of grasslands and earthworks by livestock in winter, which is particularly destructive.
In nature conservation, cattle are preferred over sheep by ecologists because they graze less uniformly, leaving a longer more varied sward and allowing many flowers to develop and set seed. Sheep tend to nibble out the flower heads and seed pods, graze much tighter and leave a short grassy "lawn". This would be fine in winter when no plants are flowering and sheep are often used to tidy up between September and March, however ideally, the summer grazing is provided by cattle; to maintain the wildflower populations at their best.
In addition to this some tree felling and scrub management is carried
out each year to keep the glades and rides open - since these have grown
over significantly due to under-grazing in the 20th century. Tree felling
is also carried out where young trees shade out and threaten older "veterans",
in order to prolong the life of these particularly valuable ancient trees,
which are home to epiphytic plants, lichens, invertebrates and bats.
The Grazing Cattle
The cattle currently at Turnworth are a mixture of three traditional British
beef breeds. The British breeds are smaller, grow slower and have more
fat in their meat - which is once again being recognised as a quality
which improves taste. They have other qualities: they are much hardier
in cold and wet weather and do not need to be housed in a barn in winter.
They can thrive on relatively poor quality grass and they are smaller
and cause less damage with their feet. The breeds you will see at Turnworth
are:
North Devon (Ruby reds) - These cattle are pure brown and usually have horns although at Turnworth most are "polled" or hornless. They are relatively small and stocky. The breed originates from Exmoor in North Devon and West Somerset and renowned for their extreme hardiness on poor grazing and resilience in exposed wet conditions. They thrive outdoors throughout the year. They grow a thick coat in winter.
Aberdeen Angus - These famous cattle are pure black, naturally polled (they do not grow horns), and generally slightly larger than the north Devon. They are from the east Scottish lowlands, and grow a particularly shaggy coat in winter.
Hereford - These cattle are generally brown and white, with white faces. In fact most of the cattle with white faces at Turnworth are North Devon crossed with Herefords, and are therefore shorter and stockier than typical Hereford cattle.
These cattle will give birth to calves in March and April, and the calves are reared by their mothers throughout the summer months. These calves will be weaned from their mothers in October at 7 months old and sold to another organic farmer. Most of those calves will then be killed for beef at about 2 to 2½ years old, however some of the females may be chosen for breeding, and will become mothers themselves for the rest of their lives. This extensive system of farming is called a beef suckler herd, and is regarded as one of the most natural and welfare friendly farming systems that produce meat.
Dog walkers please note the following:
Cattle are usually very placid however mother cows can become nervous
about dogs in the presence of their calves, so whenever you walk your
dog in a field with cattle:
- walkers should always aim to keep dogs well away from cows with calves.
- it is always best to have your dog off the lead if you must walk close to cattle, or if cattle approach you.
- cattle should usually remain relaxed if they can see your dog is moving
through rather than staying in their vicinity.
For more information about the cattle, please go to
