Districts:
Vale of White Horse Parishes
Shellingford
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
Rolling Farmland
Site Code: 29W02
Area: 1.9ha
This site is ancient woodland, which means it has been continuously wooded for at least 400 years. Its main importance lies in the presence of wet alder woodland. This is a rare habitat in Oxfordshire. There are also areas of oak woodland. Both habitats are a national priority for nature conservation.
Bluebells are abundant in the drier woodland while the wet woodland has wetland wildflowers such as marsh marigold. Other woodland wildflowers found here include early purple orchid and wood anemone. Some snails with a restricted national distribution have been recorded here.
Wooded Estatelands
Site Code: 39B02
Area: 3.2ha
This site is important due to the presence of wet willow woodland and a wetland area fed by a spring. Both habitats are national priorities for nature conservation. Wet woodland is particularly rare in Oxfordshire. This part of the county has a number of wet woodland sites due the high concentration of springs. Wet woodland and wetland wildflowers that can be seen here include marsh marigold, bugle, twayblade, which is a green flowered orchid, yellow flag iris and meadowsweet.