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West Oxfordshire Parishes

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Cherwell

South Oxfordshire

Vale of White Horse

West Oxfordshire

Districts - Landscape Types

Leafield

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.

Leafield 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 Pasture Valleys and Slopes

Site Code: 31C01

Area: 4.8 ha

This site is a steep north-east facing bank along one of the small valleys that lie to the north of the Windrush Valley. It supports limestone grassland rich in wildflowers, a habitat which is mainly found on steep banks such as this which are difficult to plough, fertilize and seed. Limestone grassland is a national priority for nature conservation.

There is a good population of green winged orchids and a rising number of common spotted orchids. There is a small old quarry area where wild thyme and yellow wort are abundant. Other wildflowers that can seen here include cowslip, fairy flax, common broomrape and sainfoin. There are also areas where the soil is much less calcareous and here lady’s mantle and harebell can be seen. There are some small clumps of planted trees and shrubs where early purple orchids are found. The bank is managed by light cattle grazing which maintains a rich and varied grassland that supports a good numbers of marbled white butterflies.