Folly Farm, Somerset
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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 Location within Somerset
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| Area of Search | Avon |
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| Grid reference | ST607604 |
| Coordinates | 51°20′29″N 2°33′56″W / 51.34132°N 2.56559°WCoordinates: 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 and Clutton, 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. The SSSI comprises two adjacent areas, the meadows (19.36 hectares) and Dowlings Wood (9 hectares). It is also a Local Nature Reserve.
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.
It attracts a wide range of birds including marsh tit (Parus palustris), buzzard (Buteo buteo) and great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major). The pasture is of a kind now rare in the area. In summer the site has a wide variety of flowers such as betony (Stachys), oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) and heath spotted orchid (Orchidaceae). In late summer, it is covered with drifts of black knapweed (Centaurea) and devil's bit scabious (scabiosa). Many butterflies can be seen throughout the summer, including marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurina), ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus), gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) and marbled white (Melanargia galathea).
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