The land now occupied by the Holtspur Bottom reserve was in low-intensity agricultural use for many years, used largely for grazing and hay. Parts of the site were also used as a rubbish tip. In 1998 the land was leased to Butterfly Conservation by Beaconsfield Town Council. At that time, viewed from the Holtspur Bank Local Nature Reserve opposite, the reserve appeared as a featureless field with surrounding hedges and an untidy bank at the right hand end.

Although deteriorating with scrub intrusion, much of the good butterfly and moth habitat remained intact on Holtspur Bank when it became protected; management there has been that of restoration.

At Holtspur Bottom by contrast, most of the habitat had been destroyed by ploughing and seeding with ryegrass; the re-creation of chalk grassland habitat here was much more of a challenge.

When restoration started there were three priorities: scrub clearance on the chalk bank; thinning ash on the upper bank, and dealing with ragwort. After some initial work part of the hillside looked hopeful; some native herbs had survived and others reappeared; there was no sign of ragwort. Sadly, the following year, the ragwort was back with a vengeance. Ragwort seed has a life of 20 years. After taking advice the meadow was deep ploughed, prior to sowing with seeds of native plants. It was hoped that this would bury all existing surface soil and seed to a depth at which regeneration of the ragwort would be minimal. Despite this action, Holtspur Bottom has an on-going problem with ragwort, which has to be tackled on an annual basis by volunteers. Otherwise, the native seed that was sown has flourished, and the reserve is now home to over 27 species of butterflies, over 300 species of moths, as well as rare bees and other insects.