Districts:
West Oxfordshire Parishes
Steeple Barton
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: 42N10
Area: 11.3ha
Middle Barton Fen SSSI
Middle Barton Fen is an exceptional area of fen and wet grassland habitat in meadows next to the Cockley Brook along with a bank of limestone grassland. These habitats are national priorities for nature conservation. Fens are particularly rare in Oxfordshire.
The rush and sedge dominated fen is rich in wildflowers including marsh orchids, marsh valerian and fen bedstraw. In the tussocky wet grassland common spotted orchids and lady’s mantle, which appears as a small version of the garden species, can be found. The site supports a variety of rare and uncommon insects.