Districts:
South Oxfordshire Parishes
Pishill with Stonor
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 Estate Slopes and Valley Sides
Site Code: 79F01
Area: 6ha
This steep bank in the Chilterns supports chalk grassland habitat. The northern part of the site is particularly rich in chalk grassland wildflowers. The southern part was used for arable crops back in the 1970s but has been left to revert to chalk grassland and, though not as rich, many of the species found in the northern area have recolonised this area. Chalk grassland is now mainly found on steep banks such as this and is a national priority for nature conservation.
Chalk grassland wildflowers that have been seen here include the rare Chiltern gentian along with pyramidal orchid, clustered bellflower and cowslip. There is a good variety of butterflies here including the uncommon chalkhill blue as well as dark green fritillary and dingy skipper.
Site Code: 78P01/2
Area: 3.3ha
This site is one of two banks of chalk grassland set within an area of parkland. Chalk grassland is now mainly found on banks such as this and is a national priority for nature conservation.
The parkland is grazed by deer. This maintains the grassland which has a variety of chalk grassland wildflowers including rock rose, large thyme, marjoram and hairy violet. The richest areas are on the steep verges of a track that crosses the site.
Site Code: 78P01/3
Area: 4.9ha
This site is one of two banks of chalk grassland set within an area of parkland. Chalk grassland is now mainly found on banks such as this and is a national priority for nature conservation.
The parkland is grazed by deer. This maintains the grassland which has a variety of chalk grassland wildflowers including clustered bellflower, harebell and small scabious. This is the richer of the two sites within Stoner Park. The bank has the typical scattering of trees found in parkland as well as areas of hawthorn scrub.
Site Code: 79A01/1
Area: 42.1ha
Pishill Woods SSSI
This site consists of parts of larger areas of woodland which are particularly fine examples of beech and beech and oak woodland. These are ancient woodland which means they have been continuously wooded for at least 400 years. Such woodland is a national priority for nature conservation.
The north facing Pishill Bank has beech and oak coppice* along with field maple and hazel coppice. At the top of the bank the soils are acidic and oak and birch dominate and heather is present. The south facing slopes of Shambridge Wood are more typical Chilterns beech woodland. The site has a rich ground flora including early purple orchid, ransoms (wild garlic), the nationally scarce mezereon, which is small shrub, and the uncommon herb Paris and wood barley.
*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. When left uncut the result is large multi-stemmed trees.
Site Code: 78J07
Area: 5.6ha
This site is a small area of woodland and scrub. It is particularly notable for the good population of the nationally scarce mezereon which is a small shrub.