Districts:
South Oxfordshire Parishes
Checkendon
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
Wooded Farmland
Site Code: 68Q05
Area: 2.6ha
This site is a narrow line of roadside beech trees with an area of mixed plantation and damp areas at each end. The site is particularly interesting because of the variety of plants that require acidic soils. These include species usually found in heathland including heather and bell heather which is very rare in Oxfordshire. There are only three places in the county where bell heather can be seen.
Overall the site has a rich variety of plants including uncommon species such as yellow pimpernel and soft shield fern as well as an uncommon moss.
Site Code: 68Q06/1
Area: 0.6ha
This site is a narrow strip of ancient beech woodland which means the site has been continuously wooded for at least 400 years. Beech woodland is a national priority for nature conservation. The site is the edge of a larger area of woodland that lies alongside a minor road.
Besides the presence of a good variety of woodland wildflowers including many bluebells and the uncommon violet helleborine the site also has many wildflowers of acid soils. These include bell heather, which is found in only two other sites in Oxfordshire, and heather. On the road verge betony and tormentil can be seen.