Hollywater and its Natural History
^{Total area - 104 Hectares}
 

The location is centred on British National Grid reference SU806341. Hollywater is a small hamlet on the edge of Woolmer Forest. It is first mentioned in1350 as 'la Holewatre juxta Iveleybrigge'. Owing to its relatively isolated position it had, until fairly recently, remained unaltered. It originated as an assart in Woolmer Forest and still has several cottages dating back to the 16th Century. The fields are small and are mostly used for smallholding and the grazing of horses. This has led to the retention of their medieval boundaries of ditches and banks topped with oak trees

In Hollywater the Hollywater River is joined by a small stream, the Deadwater to become the River Deadwater. This flows from the south to north through the area and the water is clear, unpolluted and well oxygenated. It contains Brown Trout, Brook Lampreys and Beautiful Demoiselles ^{(Calopteryx virgo)}. The fields adjoining it flood after heavy rain, and this occurs all year round.

The soil is lower greensand and supports Common Spotted Orchids ^{(Dactylorhiza fuchsii)} and Southern Marsh Orchids ^{(Dactylorhiza praetermissa)}. Hollywater has largely escaped cultivation owing to its inclusion in Woolmer Forest and later within areas owned by the MOD and National Trust, the two latter both having SPA and SSSI status.

Hollywater Farm is composed of unimproved and partially improved wet grassland with some additional elevated dry unimproved grassland areas. The westernmost meadow supports large numbers of Meadow Thistle typical of old hay meadows. All the other fields on the farm contain Common Spotted Orchids, Ladies Smock, Silverweed, Ragged Robin, some Devil's Bit Scabious and smaller amounts of Meadow Thistle.

The adjacent parish of Bramshott and Liphook contains Passfield Common and Hollywater Green owned by the National Trust. It is part of the Woolmer Forest SSSI and the Wealden Heaths Phase ll SPA. Hollywater Green is an extensive area of tussocky, tall-herb fen, lightly grazed by cattle. It contains the Wasp spider ^{(Argiope bruennichi)}, Raft Spider ^{(Dolomedes fimbriatus)} and Adderstongue fern ^{(Ophioglossum vulgatum)}.

Hollywater Pond had its dam, leat and sluices reinstated by the National Trust in 1986-7. The pond is shallow with extensive beds of marginal water plants including Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) and Brooklime ^{(Veronica beccabunga)}. It also contains Swan Mussels (^{Anodonta cygnea)}

UK BAP Species

Nightjar   ^{Caprimulgus europaeus}
Starling   ^{Sturnus vulgaris}
Marsh Tit   ^{Poecile palustris}
Bullfinch   ^{Pyrrhula pyrrhula}
House Sparrow   ^{Passer domesticus}
Song Thrush   ^{Turdus philomelos}
Brown Trout   ^{Salmo trutta}
Bullhead   ^{Cottus gabio}
Adder   ^{Vipera beris}
Grass Snake   ^{Natrix natrix}
Slow Worm   ^{Anguis fragilis}
Common Toad   ^{Bufo bufo}
Water Vole   ^{Arvicola terrestris}
Badger   ^{Meles meles}
29 BAP species of Moths including :-
Double Line   ^{Mythimna turca}

Hampshire BAP Priority Habitat Action Plans

Lowland Heath
Bog
Acid Grassland

Hampshire Notables

Large Bitter Cress   ^{Cardamine amara}
Brook Lamprey   ^{Lampetra planeri}