Shawford Down in Winchester has been officially declared a local nature reserve by Hampshire County Council.

It is among four new council-run nature reserves, bringing the total across the county to 27. The other three new ones are: Danebury Hillfort near Andover, Lepe Point on the New Forest shoreline and Hayling Billy Line in Hayling Island.

Countryside chiefs say the new official status will help protect the sites from development and shows a commitment by the council to manage the green spaces as nature reserves.

It can also help attract external funding for conservation work.

Shawford Down lies between the village of Shawford and the M3.

The 48-acre site is currently grazed by Highland cattle and regularly used by walkers.

Lepe Point, the site of a former private home purchased by the county council to protect it from development, forms part of Lepe County Park near Netley.

Recent conservation work includes the construction of a boardwalk and pond with the help of the newly-formed Friends of Lepe Country Park group.

Meanwhile Danebury Hillfort, an iron-age hillfort, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Site of Importance For Nature Conservation.

Councillor Margaret Snaith-Tempia, executive member for culture and recreation, approved designating the four sites as nature reserves last week.