Information Board at Watlington Hill

Image: © David Hillas Taken: 27 Aug 2018

This information board has been erected by The National Trust in its car park at the east end of Watlington Hill, its postcode being OX49 5HS. It shows a plan of the hill and has the following wording: On the left of the board Making a mark Once the local farmers stopped grazing their sheep on Watlington Hill it became overgrown with scrub. It wasn't a pleasant place for walkers and it wasn't a good place for butterflies. Now the National Trust is making a mark on the landscape. It's restoring the hill to a mosaic of chalk grassland and scrub. It is a great place to see Chalkhill Blue and Silver-Spotted Skipper butterflies, as well as the majestic Red Kites. The National Trust is grateful for funding received for this project from Natural England, Chilterns Conservation Board and Oxfordshire County Council. Below the plan The White Mark Edward Horner, a local squire, thought that the church which he could see from his home would look more impressive if it had a steeple. He had the huge white mark cut into the hillside to achieve this by way of an optical illusion. That's one story, anyway. There may be other explanations.... On the right of the board Please help us to keep the hill unspoilt for everyone to enjoy - take your litter or dog waste home with you. The images show from left to right: Silver-Spotted Skipper butterfly, View of Watlington Hill in 1907, and the White Mark with the Parish Church of Saint Leonard in the foreground.

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