Sources of information:
Countryside Commission Noticeboard in Selborne
Internet search about the geology of the area.
There is much to explore both within the village of Selborne and the surrounding countryside. The area is renowned for its natural history made famous in the 18th Century by Gilbert White, the village's best known resident. The village lies on the narrow Greensand plateau in between the Chalk Hangers to the west and the Greensand Hangers to the east, which make two steps down from the high chalk plateau on to the floor of the Weald.
The Chalk Hanger runs continuously from the East Meon to Selborne where it finally peters out. Open chalk downland was once extensive on the scarp slopes, but trees have gradually taken over following the relaxation of sheep grazing and the extensive planting of beech trees in the late 18th and early 19th century.
Selborne Hanger overlooks the village and is nationally important for the plants that are found there most notable for the different varieties of Helleborines.
A climb up the Zig-Zag path runs through the Hanger to Selborne Common where the clay-with-flints plateau overlies the chalk and its wet, acid soils provide a stark contrast to the Beech Hangers. The area was once open common land, where cattle grazed regularly amongst the scattered beech pollards. Much of the open acid grassland has now been colonised by trees and shrubs.
The Hanger's Way to the south towards Petersfield goes via Noar Hill which has a range of chalk vegetation from open chalk grassland overlying ancient quarries and invasive mixed scrub of Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Juniper and briars. Apart from the plant species the site is nationally important for both grasshoppers and butterflies - being probably the strongest remaining population of the Duke of Burgundy butterfly.
From the top of the chalk scarp are distant views of the Weald.
The Hangers
The Hangers form a dramatic edge to the chalk downland and consist of the Chalk and Greensand Hangers, which form two steps down from the chalk plateau onto the floor of the Weald.
Chalk Hangers are steep dramatic slopes, in places greater than 15%. They are covered in predominantly beech, yew and ash woodlands plus occasional meadows. Examples are Noar Hill and Ashford Hanger
Greensand Hangers are less pronounced and more gradually sloped. The steeper slopes are clothed in oak, ash, hazel, and Wych elm woodland. Examples are Selborne Long Lythe.
To claim this cache please email through our profile the answers to the following questions:
1. What colour is the exposed rock on the Zig-Zag path
2. When was the Zig-Zag path cut
3. Measure the difference in altitude from the bottom of the Zig-Zag (ZZ1) path to the top (ZZ2) (300feet is not accurate enough!!)
4. Estimate the inclination of Selborne Hanger
5. What is there at the top of the Zig-Zag Path at location ZZ2
6. What type of Hanger is Selborne Hanger