Districts:
West Oxfordshire Parishes
Blenheim
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 Pasture Valleys and Slopes
Site Code: 41I01/2
Area: 222.2ha
Blenheim Park SSSI
The historic Blenheim Park contains one of the finest areas of ancient pasture woodland in Britain. Wood pasture has an open canopy of trees usually with grassland and heathland habitats on the ground. This habitat is a national priority for nature conservation. The site also includes the lakes that were created by Capability Brown which support good numbers of wildfowl that winter in the UK.
The most important feature is the very old pollarded oak trees. These are known as veteran trees. The presence of decaying wood is a distinctive feature of these trees and is particularly important in providing habitat for specialist invertebrates and fungi. Numerous rare species have been recorded at Blenheim. Beneath the trees there are areas of wet acid grassland, bracken heath and limestone grassland. Woodland wildflowers, such as the uncommon meadow saffron, are also present. Some blocks of woodland have been planted within the wood pasture.