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Cherwell

South Oxfordshire

Vale of White Horse

West Oxfordshire

Districts - Landscape Types

Aston Rowant

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.

Aston Rowant Image Map

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 Estate Slopes and Valley Sides

Site Code: 79P03

Area: 209.7ha

Aston Rowant Woods SSSI

Aston Rowant Woods is a large area of ancient beech woodland located on the escapement of the Chilterns. Sites which have been continuously wooded for at least 400 years are classed as ancient. The woods are particularly rich examples of beech woodland which is characteristic of the Chilterns. Beech woodland is a national priority for nature conservation.

Besides the beech, in places the canopy is more mixed with oak, ash, wild cherry, field maple and hornbeam. In places oak dominates and the uncommon small-leaved lime is present. There are small wet areas with willow and alder. Typically for beech woodland there is a sparse shrub layer. Numerous uncommon woodland wildflowers are found in the wood. These include herb Paris, green hellebore, fly orchid and violet and narrow-lipped helleborines.