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Vale of White Horse Parishes

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Cherwell

South Oxfordshire

Vale of White Horse

West Oxfordshire

Districts - Landscape Types

Wootton

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.

Wootton 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 Farmland

Site Code: 40V01

This wood on Boars Hill is an area of long established woodland composed largely of native broadleaved trees and shrubs and in spring the ground has a carpet of bluebells. Woodland of this type is a national priority for nature conservation.

The sandy soils of Boars Hill are acidic and typically for these conditions the woodland has a canopy of oak and birch. Also typically for acidic sandy soils gorse is found in the wood. On the slopes water seeps out forming wet marshy areas. There is also a pond where the uncommon aquatic wildflower water soldier can be seen. The wood provides good habitat for birds and butterflies. The rare silver-spotted skipper butterfly has been seen here. The wood is managed as a private nature reserve.

Site Code: 40W03

Memorial Garden

This site is a memorial wild garden. Lying on the acidic sandy soils of Boars Hill it supports acid grassland habitat which is rare in Oxfordshire and is a national priority for nature conservation.

Acid grassland wildflowers found here include heath bedstraw, mouse-eared hawkweed, tormentil and sheep’s sorrel. The latter gives the turf a distinctive red appearance when in flower. Heathland plants have been planted in the garden including heather and bell heather. There is also a pond where aquatic wildflowers have been planted.