Districts:
West Oxfordshire Parishes
Ramsden
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 Farmland
Site Code: 31M05
Area: 7.9ha
This site has acidic soils that support remnants of acid habitats. Typically for this sort of site a large part has been planted with conifers. However part of the site has areas of acid grassland, which is very rare locally and a national nature conservation priority. In addition there is gorse and blackthorn scrub. Acid grassland wildflowers present here include tormentil and the uncommon field mouse-ear.
Site Code: 31M08
Area: 2.1ha
This gently sloping field is rich in grassland wildflowers, which indicates that it has not been treated with herbicides or fertilizers or been ploughed and reseeded. The field does have a ridge and furrow pattern, which is a sign of medieval ploughing, and also a sign of long continuity as a grassland site without ploughing in more recent times. This type of meadow is a national nature conservation priority.
The field has a good range of wildflowers including green winged orchid, cowslip, adder’s tongue fern and the more common colourful species such as common knapweed and oxeye daisy. The top of the slope on clay soils is quite wet as indicated by the abundance of rushes. Although it is described as a hayfield it is only cut for hay in some years. It is usually grazed with some areas left ungrazed in the spring and early summer which helps maintain the variety of wildflowers.