| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 | |
  Location within Somerset | |
| Location | Avon |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | ST607604 |
| Coordinates | 51°20′29″N 2°33′56″W / 51.34132°N 2.56559°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 19.36 hectares (0.1936 km2; 0.0747 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1987 |
| Natural England website | |
Folly Farm is a traditionally managed working farm and nature reserve run by the Avon Wildlife Trust. It is located between Stowey, Clutton and Stanton Wick in the civil parish of Stowey in the English county of Somerset.
The farm house is 18th century and the surrounding land includes neutral grassland, wildflower meadows and woodlands with splendid views. Much of Folly Farm is designated as a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest. Some of the land has never been ploughed.[1] The SSSI comprises two adjacent areas, the meadows (19.36 hectares) and Dowlings Wood (9 hectares). It is also a Local Nature Reserve.[2][3]
It can be found near Bishop Sutton in the Chew Valley, just off the A368. The site is situated on a curved ridge of land on neutral soils derived from the underlying Keuper Marl. The soil is of the Icknield Association with dark brown, moist but moderately well-drained clay.
The 250 acres (100 ha) nature reserve includes the Folly Oak which is over 400 years old.[4][5]
- ^ Lawrence, Dawn (12 March 2018). "Country diary: the first farmers did not go in for squared-off plots". Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ "Folly Farm". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England.
- ^ "Map of Folly Farm". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England.
- ^ Emanuel, Louis (1 March 2013). "Wildlife Trust's guide to historic trees in Bristol". The Post. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Great places to see ancient and unusual trees" (PDF). Wildlife Trusts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.