Chiltern Society PhotoGroup

 
 
 
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Early morning traffic on the M40, where it scythes its way through the Chiltern escarpment above Lewknor and on past Stokenchurch. The M40 makes the area accessible and conversely brings London and Oxford within easy reach.

Beacon Hill is part of the Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve. A number of scarce plants can be seen on the reserve as well as many species of butterfly such as the silver spotted skipper and the chalkhill blue.

The viewpoint at the top of the hill is also one of the best places to see the red kites, which were reintroduced to the area in 1989. At 700 feet, Stokenchurch is one of the highest villages on the recently designated 'Chiltern Way'. It boasts one of the densest populations of red kites in Europe.
Author: David Cripps