Districts:
South Oxfordshire Parishes
Dorchester
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
Terrace Farmland
Site Code: 59R05
Area: 18.2ha
This riverside meadow is important for the presence of a small lake and shallow pools that remain wet often into early summer. The southern part of the meadow often floods in winter. This makes the site attractive for birds and it is an important feeding area for many of the wildfowl that winter in the UK which use the disused gravel pits at Dorchester.
In winter there are usually good flocks of skylarks, linnets, meadow pipits and finches along with reed buntings and yellowhammers. All these are birds of conservation concern and most are national priorities for nature conservation.
Site Code: 59X01/3
Area: 1.7 ha
This site is one of a group of old gravel pits. These pits are an important site for birds especially for wildfowl that winter in the UK. These include a number of birds of conservation concern.
At this pit, wigeon, pochard, teal, gadwall, shoveller and black-headed gull have been recorded. Kingfishers are regularly seen around the pits. The pits are ringed by willows and have a fringe of tall wetland vegetation. A variety of birds nest here including great crested and little grebes. The importance of the pits in this area needs to be considered as a whole because birds move between them depending on food, disturbance and times of the day.
Site Code: 59X01/2
Area: 11.2 ha
This site is one of the least disturbed of a group of old gravel pits which are important for birds especially wildfowl that winter in the UK. The lake has is surrounded by willow and has a good variety of wetland plants at the edge and plants that live in water. Rich areas of open water are a national priority for nature conservation.
Wildfowl that are of conservation concern are regularly seen here including wigeon, pochard, teal, gadwall, shoveller and black-headed gull. In addition kingfishers are often seen here. The importance of the pits in this area needs to be considered as a whole because birds move between them depending on food, disturbance and times of the day.
Site Code: 59X01/1
Area: 33ha
This site is the largest of a group of old gravel pits which together provide important habitat for birds. This pit was always the most important and large numbers of wildfowl that winter in the UK were regularly present. The site has changed recently with more disturbance from water sports and the construction of causeways that divide the open water.
The pit is still used by wildfowl that are of conservation concern including pochard and wigeon. The causeways attract good numbers of lapwing and black-headed gull. In the summer common sandpiper, redshank and kingfisher have been seen. Many wetland plants are found around the edge of the lake and on the causeways.
The importance of the pits in the area needs to be considered as a whole because birds move between them depending on food, disturbance and times of the day
Site Code: 59X01/4
Area: 8.8 ha
This pit is the least disturbed of a group of old gravel pits which are important for birds especially wildfowl that winter in the UK. The lake has a good fringe of tall wetland vegetation and is surrounded by willows.
A variety of wildfowl that are of conservation concern regularly use this site including gadwall, pintail, shelduck, pochard and teal. The site is also good for song birds including species that are national priorities for nature conservation due to the rapid decline in their numbers. These include linnet, reed bunting and yellowhammer. The importance of the pits in this area needs to be considered as a whole because birds move between them depending on food, disturbance and times of the day.