Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Location | Buckinghamshire |
---|---|
Grid reference | SP703235 |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 56.9 hectares |
Notification | 1986 |
Location map | Magic Map |
Sheephouse Wood is a 56.9-hectare (141-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Charndon in Buckinghamshire. [1] [2]
The site has ancient pedunculate oak woodland with diverse ground flora, typical breeding birds and some uncommon invertebrates. It is located on very poorly drained Oxford clay in the Vale of Aylesbury, and there are many small streams. Much of the woods have been woodland has been coppiced. Wet areas have maple and ash. The ground flora is dominated by brambles and bluebells. Invertebrates include the rare black hairstreak butterfly and ground-hopper tetrix subulata. [1]
There is access by footpaths from Calvert. Some areas have notices: "No public right of way: nature conservation area".
The former Great Central Main Line cuts through the southwestern edge of the wood. The alignment is still in use for freight. 1.4 hectares of woodland at the southwestern edge of the site will be lost with the construction of High Speed 2, which will pass adjacent to the existing railway. [3]
The new railway line will be covered by a structure in order to protect bats from passing trains. In November 2024, the cost of the structure was reported as £100 million. [4]
Bechstein's bat is a species of vesper bat found in Europe and western Asia, living in extensive areas of woodland.
Bowdown and Chamberhouse Woods is a 67.9-hectare (168-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Thatcham in Berkshire. An area of 55 hectares is a nature reserve managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.
Ashridge Commons and Woods is a 640.1 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. It is located in Little Gaddesden, and is part of the National Trust Ashridge Estate in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Naphhill Common is a 71.1-hectare (176-acre) Site of Special Scientific Interest in Naphill in Buckinghamshire. It is in of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and it is listed in A Nature Conservation Review. It is common land, with commoners' rights to estovers, grazing and firebote.
Bricket Wood Common is a 70 hectare open space and biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Bricket Wood in Hertfordshire. It is managed by St Albans City and District Council together with the Countryside Management Service and Bricket Wood Joint Management Committee.
Bradenham Woods, Park Wood and The Coppice is a 129.1-hectare (319-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Bradenham in Buckinghamshire. It is in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and it is described in A Nature Conservation Review. The site is part of the Bradenham Estate, which is owned by the National Trust. It is also designated a Special Area of Conservation. Grim's Ditch, a Scheduled Monument, runs through the site.
Grangelands and Pulpit Hill is a 25.5-hectare (63-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Cadsden in Buckinghamshire. It lies within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the planning authorities are Wycombe District Council and Buckinghamshire County Council.
Hollowhill and Pullingshill Woods is a 23-hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Marlow in Buckinghamshire. It is in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the Chilterns Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation. The local planning authorities are Wycombe District Council and Buckinghamshire County Council. Pullingshill Wood is owned by the Woodland Trust, and Hollowhill Wood was formerly owned by Buckinghamshire County Council, but was transferred to the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. Since November 2015 the 7.8-hectare site has been managed by the Trust as "Hog and Hollowhill Woods".
Dancersend is an 81.3-hectare (201-acre) Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) south of Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire. Part of the site is managed by the Forestry Commission and part by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT). The BBOWT's 47 hectare nature reserve, called Dancersend with Pavis Woods, extends into fields west of the SSSI. It is in the Chilterns Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Millfield Wood is a 9.5-hectare (23-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest north of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. It is owned and managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, and it is in the Chilterns Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Swain's Wood is a 16.2-hectare (40-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Turville in Buckinghamshire. It is in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.
Widdenton Park Wood is a 23.5-hectare (58-acre) Site of Special Scientific Interest west of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. It is on the site of a medieval deer park going back to the fourteenth century, and most of it is in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Aston Rowant Woods is a 209.7-hectare (518-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Aston Rowant in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Part of it is in Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve, and a large part is in the Chiltern Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation. The site is also in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Ham Home-cum-Hamgreen Woods is a 23.2-hectare (57-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Kingswood near Grendon Underwood in Buckinghamshire. It is composed of two separate areas, Ham Home Wood and Hamgreen Wood, and is a small part of the formerly extensive Bernwood Forest.
Rushbeds Wood is a 56-hectare (140-acre) nature reserve near Wotton Underwood in Buckinghamshire, managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT). It is a surviving fragment of the ancient Bernwood Forest. The reserve is part of Rushbeds Wood and Railway Cutting, an 80.2-hectare (198-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest. This includes a section of the Chiltern Main Line railway cutting, which runs along the north-east side of the BBOWT reserve.
Rodbed Wood is a 2.2-hectare (5.4-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Medmenham in Buckinghamshire. It is in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Temple Island Meadows is a 14.1-hectare (35-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the Buckinghamshire bank of the River Thames. It is north of Henley-on-Thames and opposite Temple Island, an island in the Thames.
High Wood, Dunmow is a 41.5-hectare (103-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Great Dunmow in Essex. The local planning authority is Uttlesford District Council.
Farningham Wood is a 74.2-hectare (183-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Swanley in Kent. It is also a Local Nature Reserve. It is owned and managed by Sevenoaks District Council and Farningham Parish Council.
Bould Wood is a 58.2-hectare (144-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest north of Shipton-under-Wychwood in Oxfordshire. An area of 23 hectares is Foxholes nature reserve, which is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.