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Cherwell Parishes

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Cherwell

South Oxfordshire

Vale of White Horse

West Oxfordshire

Districts - Landscape Types

Ambrosden

This map highlights the landscape types within the parish you selected, and its associated local character areas. You can click on any area of the map for a description of its landscape character and biodiversity. Please note that local character areas can cover large areas of the countryside, and may include several parishes, so the description may not be specific to this parish. If there are any wildlife habitats within the parish their descriptions can be found by scrolling to the bottom of this page.

Ambrosden

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

Alluvial Lowlands

Site Code: 61E14

Area: 4.2ha

This meadow lies close to the River Ray. It has areas which are rich in grassland wildflowers though other parts are species poor. This suggests that the field has undergone some agricultural improvement in this past probably through the use of fertilizers and/or herbicides. However good elements of the richer meadow flora survive and when this is the case the grassland is described as semi-improved. Meadows such as this are a national priority for nature conservation.

The richer areas of this meadow are found in the eastern half of the field. There is a good variety of colourful wildflowers including great burnet, dropwort, cowslip, knapweed and oxeye daisy. Ragged robin can be seen in the wetter areas in the east of the meadow. There are wet areas in the less rich western part of the meadow where rushes and sedges are abundant.

Wooded Hills

Site Code: 52V01

Area: 16.3 ha

This site is ancient woodland, which means it has been continuously wooded for at least 400 years. Ancient broadleaved woodland is a national priority for nature conservation.

The canopy is oak and ash and underneath this there is a layer of mixed shrubs including hazel, Midland hawthorn, spindle and wayfaring tree. The heavy clay soils mean the woodland is poorly drained leading to the presence of much tussocky grass and sedge. Amongst this there are many bluebells along with much dog’s mercury and wood anemone. Primrose and yellow archangel are also present. Among the birds present are grasshopper warbler and willow warbler, which are both classed as birds of conservation concern.