Districts:
Cherwell Parishes
Mollington
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 (owls@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
Farmland Slopes and Valley Sides
Site Code: 44D01
Area: 6.6ha
This site is one of the few areas of woodland in this part of Oxfordshire. It is long established and composed mainly of native trees and shrubs. The canopy is mainly ash and the shrub layer is largely hazel and hawthorn. Broadleaved woodland such as this is a national priority for nature conservation.
The wood is particularly important for bats which are actively encouraged to use the site through the use of boxes in which they can roost. With so little woodland in the area it is also likely to be important for woodland birds. A number of ponds have been created in the wood.
Upstanding Village Farmlands
Site Code: 44J01
Area: 18.9ha
This site is one of the few sizable areas of woodland in North Oxfordshire. Although not ancient woodland it is long established and has the composition of native broadleaved trees and shrubs typical of such woodland. There is a canopy of ash trees and a shrub layer of hazel coppice* and hawthorn. Broadleaved woodlands such as this are a national priority for nature conservation. With so little woodland in this part of North Oxfordshire this site is important for woodland birds.
*Coppicing is a traditional form of management where small multi-stemmed trees and shrubs are cut down to the ground at regular intervals producing a harvest of small branches.