The reserve supports a rich flora including many calcicoles such as common milkwort (Polygala vulgaris), small scabious (Scabiosa columbaria) and marjoram (Origanum vulgare).

Notable species include slender bedstraw (Galium pumilum), adder's tongue (Ophioglossum), horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) and columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris).

Many butterflies thrive at the reserve including the chalkhill blue (Polyommatus coridon), brown argus (Aricia agestis) and marbled white (Melanargia galathea).

The woodland and scrub within and surrounding the reserve attract many feeding and breeding birds including the nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), European green woodpecker (Picus viridis), great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), linnet (Carduelis cannabina), whitethroat (Sylvia communis), garden warbler (Sylvia borin), hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) and hobby (Falco subbuteo).

The chalk grassland is maintained through annual grazing by Highland cattle and Konik ponies from September to December and scrub cutting in winter.