Districts:
South Oxfordshire Parishes
South Stoke
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
River Meadowlands
Site Code: 58W01/1
This site is one of the largest areas of riverside marsh in Oxfordshire and it supports a great variety of birds, invertebrates and wildflowers including many rare species.
There are extensive areas of tall wetland vegetation with reedbeds, tall sedges and reed-grasses. This habitat is known as swamp because it is regularly inundated with water. There are also areas of wet willow woodland and wet grassland. All these habitats are national priorities for nature conservation.
Of the many birds found here reed bunting, which is a national priority species due to the rapid decline in its UK population, along with sedge warbler, reed warbler, water rail and snipe nest at this site. All these are birds of conservation concern. Good numbers of snipe are found here in winter. Amongst the great variety of wildflowers, sedges and rushes there is a very good population of the rare Lodden lily. This wildflower is found mainly along the Thames in Oxfordshire and Berkshire and along the River Lodden which gives the plant its name. The site is one of the richest County Wildlife Sites for rare and uncommon invertebrates.
Terrace Farmland
Site Code: 58W04
This site is the location of old monastic fishponds. The site was neglected for many years and tall wetland vegetation, dominated by tall sedges, colonised most of the ponds and ditches. Wet willow and alder woodland established throughout the rest of the site. Wet woodland is rare in Oxfordshire and is a national priority for nature conservation.
There is a good variety of wetland wildflowers and some aquatic plants. These include meadowsweet, ragged robin, yellow loosestrife, meadow rue and water plantain. Some of the ponds are being opened up and restored.