Broughton Down

{{Short description|UK Site of Special Scientific Interest}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox SSSI

|image= Broughton Down Nature Reserve - geograph.org.uk - 1739587.jpg

|image_caption =

|name= Broughton Down

|aos= Hampshire

|interest=Biological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|SU 289 330}}

|area= {{convert|45.8|ha|acre|abbr=off}}

|notifydate= 1984

|map=[https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271003836%27 Magic Map]

}}

Broughton Down is a {{convert| 45.8 |ha|acre|abbr=off|adj=on}} biological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Broughton in Hampshire.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1003836&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Broughton Down| series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate = 7 May 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271003836%27 |title=Map of Broughton Down|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 7 May 2020}} The eastern half is a nature reserve managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.{{cite web|url= https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/broughton-down-nature-reserve |title= Broughton Down |publisher= Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust |accessdate= 24 April 2020}}

This sloping site on chalk has grassland which is grazed by rabbits and has many anthills. There are also areas of scrub and mature woodland. Insects include silver-spotted skipper, Duke of Burgundy fritillary and Essex skipper butterflies and chalk carpet moths.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1003836.pdf |title=Broughton Down citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 7 May 2020}}