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Cherwell

South Oxfordshire

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West Oxfordshire

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Moulsford

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.

Moulsford 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 Downland

Site Code: 58R01/2

Area: 11.3 ha

Moulsford Downs SSSI

This site is an area of chalk grassland on a steep bank towards the east end of the Berkshire Downs. Chalk grassland is now mainly found on steep banks such as this. Chalk grassland is a nationally priority for nature conservation. rarity. The close grazed turf has the typical abundance of small wildflowers characteristic of much of this grassland. These include, horseshoe vetch, clustered bellflower, chalk milkwort and eyebright. The nationally scarce wild candytuft is also present. Adonis blue and silver-spotted skipper butterflies are found here. Both are national nature conservation priorities.

There is also a small woodland plantation and areas of scrub with juniper, the small native conifer. This species has become increasingly rare and in Oxfordshire is mainly restricted to scrub areas on chalk grassland sites along the escarpment of the Berkshire Downs and Chilterns. It is also a national nature conservation priority.

Site Code: 58R03

Area:

This site is an extensive area of woodland on the Berkshire Downs. The site is ancient woodland which means it has been continuously wooded for at least 400 years. There are extensive areas of beech woodland and also areas oak and ash. These types of woodland are a national priority for nature conservation. Within the woods there is some chalk grassland in open areas. This is also a national priority habitat.

On the ground there is a good variety of woodland wildflowers including extensive patches of bluebells and dog’s mercury which is typical for such old woodland. Other wildflowers present include primrose, nettle-leave bellflower and wild strawberry. Wildflowers found in the chalk grassland include pyramidal orchids, harebell and the nationally scarce wild candytuft.