Knocking Hoe

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

{{Infobox SSSI

|image=Knocking Hoe 2.JPG

|image_caption=Knocking Hoe with terraces of the ancient strip lynchet field system

|name= Knocking Hoe

|aos= Bedfordshire

|interest= Biological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall| TL131307 }}

|area={{convert|7.7|ha}}

|notifydate=1985

|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002999%27 Magic Map]

}}

Knocking Hoe is a {{convert|7.7|ha|adj=on}} National Nature Reserve and biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Pegsdon in Bedfordshire. It is mentioned in A Nature Conservation Review.{{cite web|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002999.pdf |title=Knocking Hoe citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 8 March 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002999%27 |title=Map of Knocking Hoe|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 8 March 2015}} It is part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,{{cite web|url=http://www.chilternsaonb.org/ccbmaps/61/137/knocking-hoe-national-nature-reserve.html|title=Knocking Hoe National Nature Reserve|publisher=Chilterns Conservation Board|accessdate= 8 March 2015}} and is managed by Natural England.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bedfordshires-national-nature-reserves/bedfordshires-national-nature-reserves|title=Bedfordshire's National Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 8 March 2015}}

The site is a flat-bottomed valley with steep sides. The unimproved chalk grassland has several nationally rare plants, including moon carrot, spotted catsear, field fleawort, burnt tip orchid and pasque flower. There are also a variety of wild flowers such as the autumn lady’s tresses, which has been studied on the site for over fifty years. The ancient strip lynchet field system is of archaeological interest.

There is access by a footpath from Hitchin Road in Pegsdon.