Districts:
West Oxfordshire Parishes
Heythrop
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: 32N01
Area: 11.9ha
This site is an area of mixed woodland. Much of the wood is long established ash woodland with oak and birch and a variety of other trees and shrubs. Such mixed broadleaved woodland is a national nature conservation priority. There are also areas of mixed plantation.
The woodland has a good variety of birds. Great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, sparrowhawk and buzzard nest here. Woodland wildflowers present include early purple orchid, common spotted orchid, twayblade, which is a green flowered orchid, and wild strawberry.
Site Code: 32N02
Area: 6.4ha
This site is a south facing slope with acidic sandy soils. Part of the site has much bracken, which is typical for such soils, along with many bluebells. This area also has remnants of acid grassland where the uncommon field mouse-ear is found. Acid grassland is very rare in Oxfordshire and is a national priority for nature conservation.
Other parts of the site have more neutral grassland with many wildflowers including early purple orchid, pignut and dropwort. This type of grassland is also a national nature conservation priority. There are also patches of scrub including areas of gorse and a wet area along a stream where wetland wildflowers can be seen. The site supports a good variety of birds, including woodpeckers, and also butterflies.