Districts:

Vale of White Horse Parishes

Select District:

Districts - Parishes

Cherwell

South Oxfordshire

Vale of White Horse

West Oxfordshire

Districts - Landscape Types

West Hendred

This map highlights the landscape types within the parish you selected, and its associated local character areas. You can click on any area of the map for a description of its landscape character and biodiversity. Please note that local character areas can cover large areas of the countryside, and may include several parishes, so the description may not be specific to this parish. If there are any wildlife habitats within the parish their descriptions can be found by scrolling to the bottom of this page.

The following wildlife habitats fall within this parish. They are listed according to their associated landscape type or local character area.

If you want more information about any of the sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) listed below, take a look at English Nature's Nature on the Map website. It may also be possible to find out a bit more about the unnamed wildlife habitats in the parish by contacting the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (gavin.bird@oxfordshire.gov.uk) and quoting the site code next to the habitat description.

The majority of these wildlife habitats are on private land and access to them is not possible without permission of the landowner, unless there is a statutory right of way. However, many wildlife habitats in the county are open to the public. More information on these can be obtained from the Oxfordshire Nature Conservation Forum.

Wildlife Habitats

Alluvial Lowlands

Site Code: 49F01

Area: 18ha

This site is an area of ancient woodland along with grassland, scrub, tall wetland habitat and a group of large ponds, which were dug as borrow pits for the construction of a railway. Ancient woodland means it has been continuously wooded since at least 1600AD. The woodland has a canopy of oak and ash in the north while the larger southern section has much hawthorn and blackthorn scrub and few trees. There is also a large native black poplar at the edge of the wood. This tree is an uncommon sight though there is a good concentration in this part of Oxfordshire. Mixed broadleaved woodland, tall wetland habitat and rich open water as found in the ponds are national priorities for nature conservation.

The site is particularly good for birds, amphibians and invertebrates. Bullfinch, a national priority for nature conservation, and spotted flycatcher which is a species of conservation concern are present. Great crested newt, another national priority species, is found in some of the ponds. Smooth newt, toads and frogs are also present. Many rare and uncommon insects and spiders have been recorded. These include the ruddy darter dragonfly.