Districts:
Vale of White Horse Parishes
Ardington
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
Chalk Downlands and Slopes
Site Code: 48L01 and 48M07
This site is a bank with historical features such as an earthbank and a number of small quarries. There are areas of wildflower rich chalk grassland on the bank. Chalk grassland, once much more common on the Downs, is now mainly restricted to steep banks and is a national priority for nature conservation. Typically for chalk grassland there is an abundance of small often colourful wildflowers. These include horseshoe vetch, betony, devil’s-bit scabious and dropwort. In addition the nationally scarce wild candytuft is present. The rich chalk grassland is maintained by rabbit grazing and is found in patches amongst much taller and less species rich grassland.