The escarpment forms a 26.1-hectare (64-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1954 and ratified in 1986.

[3] Wotton Hill lies on the Jurassic limestone scarp of the Cotswolds and includes disused quarries.

Ash and pedunculate oak are widespread, and other trees include field maple and locally small-leaved lime.

The scrub and grassland in the disused quarries (unit 4) provides a good habitat for butterflies, which include chalkhill blue and brown argus.

[4] This reserve (grid reference ST755943) is a 0.22-hectare (0.54-acre) site on the top of the Cotswold scarp, which is one and a half miles north of Wotton-under-Edge.

It was purchased by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust in 1972, primarily to safeguard one of the only two remaining British locations of limestone woundwort.

It lies on Inferior Oolitic limestone and is part of a row of small narrow fields known locally as 'The Cupboards'.

The fields support grassland flowers such as common fleabane, agrimony, cuckooflower, marjoram and bulbous buttercup.

[3] The prime aim is to increase the numbers of limestone woundwort, which are now reported present in the woodland units of the SSSI.