Langford Heathfield
Langford Heathfield is a 95.4 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest at Langford Budville, north west of Wellington in Somerset, notified in 1966.
Most of this Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve was purchased in 1982 with Coram’s wood and Lucas’s Copse added in 1985. The purchases were generously assisted by World Wide Fund for Nature, the Countryside Agency, English Nature, Taunton Deane Borough Council, Somerset County Council and the Royal Society for Nature Conservation.
Langford Heathfield comprises a variety of semi-natural habitats which includes neutral marshy grassland and ancient woodland. An outstanding assemblage of 26 different species of resident breeding butterflies have been recorded. Of these marsh fritillary, high brown fritillary, wood white and brown hairstreak all have a local distribution in Somerset. Other invertebrates of interest include the very local beetles: Mordellistena abdominalis and Ischnomera caerulea, and hornet.
Four species of reptile are present: adder, grass snake, slow-worm and common lizard. Palmate newts occur in the ponds and common frogs are frequent. A wide range of birds have been recorded including nightingale and grasshopper warbler.
