Catherington Down

{{Short description|Nature reserve in Hampshire, England}}

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

{{Infobox SSSI

|image= CatheringtonDown.JPG

|image_caption =

|name= Catherington Down

|aos= Hampshire

|interest=Biological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|SU 691 143}}

|area= {{convert|12.8|ha|acre|abbr=off}}

|notifydate= 1984

|map=[https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002648%27 Magic Map]

}}

Catherington Down is a {{convert| 12.8 |ha|acre|abbr=off|adj=on}} biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Catherington in Hampshire.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1002648&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Catherington Down | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate = 9 May 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002648%27 |title=Map of Catherington Down|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 9 May 2020}} It is also a Local Nature Reserve{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1008830&SiteName=Catherington%20Down&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=|title= Designated Sites View: Catherington Down, Horndean |series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England |accessdate= 23 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=Ref_CODE%3D%271008830%27 |title=Map of Catherington Down|series= Local Nature Reserves |publisher=Natural England| accessdate= 9 May 2020}}

This western sloping site is chalk grassland with prominent lynchet strips dating to the Middle Ages. It is managed by grazing and has a variety of chalk herbs, such as pyramidal orchid, round-headed rampion and autumn lady's-tresses. There is also a narrow belt of woodland.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1002648.pdf |title=Catherington Down citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 9 May 2020}}

There is access by footpaths from Catherington Lane.