Districts:
West Oxfordshire Parishes
Hanborough
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 Estatelands
Site Code: 41G04
Area: 46.6ha
This site is a good sized ancient woodland which means that is has been continuously wooded for at least 400 years. Large parts of the wood have old traditional woodland with a canopy of oak, ash and field maple trees which carpets of bluebells on the ground. This type of woodland is a national nature conservation priority. Most of the centre of the wood has been replanted with conifers
The wood has many plants associated with ancient woodland including the uncommon wild service tree. Wildflowers found here include early purple orchid, yellow archangel, primrose and wood anemone. In the past purple hairstreak, wood white and white admiral butterflies have been recorded in the wood.
Site Code: 41G03
Area: 4.3ha
Long Hanborough Gravel Pit SSSI
The quarry faces at this disused gravel pit have exposures of rocks that are important in the understanding of geological history. Here there are fossil rich exposures of the gravels that underlie the Hanborough area where Palaeolithic hand axes have been found.
Wooded Estate Slopes and Valley Sides
Site Code: 41C01
Area: 2.4ha
This site consists of two banks which are important for the presence of areas limestone grassland, which is a national priority for nature conservation. The rare limestone grassland wildflower meadow clary is found here. This species is found mainly in this part of the Cotswolds and is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The eastern bank, where the meadow clary occurs, is mainly covered in scrub and the limestone grassland is restricted to small glades. The grassland on the western bank is quite recent in origin and less rich in species. Other limestone grassland species found on the banks include pyramidal orchid and harebell. The banks support a good variety of birds including linnet, skylark, bullfinch and song thrush which are all national priorities for nature conservation due to the rapid declines in their population. A nationally scare snail has also been recorded here.