Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows

Last updated

Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Bluebell wood - geograph.org.uk - 1279971.jpg
Berkshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Berkshire
Location Berkshire
Grid reference SU 639 743 [1]
Coordinates 51°27′50″N1°04′55″W / 51.464°N 1.082°W / 51.464; -1.082
InterestBiological
Area75.7 hectares (187 acres) [1]
Notification 1986 [1]
Location map Magic Map

Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows is a 75.7-hectare (187-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Reading in Berkshire. [1] [2] Previously known as Pang Valley SSSI, the site is mostly sandwiched between the River Pang and the Sulham Road and includes Broom Copse, Herridge's Copse, Hogmoor Copse, Park Wood, Moor Copse and Barton's Copse. Much of the southern part of the site is the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust's Moor Copse Nature Reserve. The whole site lies within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. [3] [4]

The SSSI consists of five areas.

LocationUnit area (Ha)Main habitat
51°28′13″N1°04′58″W / 51.4704°N 1.0828°W / 51.4704; -1.0828 15.24Acid grassland - lowland
51°27′57″N1°04′43″W / 51.4659°N 1.0786°W / 51.4659; -1.0786 15.48 Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland - lowland
51°27′38″N1°05′04″W / 51.4605°N 1.0844°W / 51.4605; -1.0844 27.57Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland - lowland
51°27′18″N1°04′49″W / 51.4551°N 1.0803°W / 51.4551; -1.0803 7.70Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland - lowland
51°27′57″N1°04′59″W / 51.4659°N 1.0831°W / 51.4659; -1.0831 9.76Neutral grassland - lowland

The site is in a broad valley of unusually varied alluvial loams, gravel terraces and peat deposits, resulting from flooding in late glacial times by an enlarged River Kennet. The variety in soils and topography results in a mosaic of damp copses and seasonally flooded meadow communities, maintained here by a long history of coppicing and sympathetic grassland husbandry. The woodland on the site supports a rich invertebrate fauna including over 300 species of moth. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernwood Forest</span>

Bernwood Forest is a forest in England. Historically it was one of several forests of the ancient Kingdom of England and was a Royal hunting forest. It is thought to have been set aside as Royal hunting land when the Anglo-Saxon kings had a palace at Brill and church in Oakley, in the 10th century and was a particularly favoured place of Edward the Confessor, who was born in nearby Islip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tidmarsh</span> Village in England

Tidmarsh is a village in West Berkshire, England. Its development is mainly residential and agricultural, and is centred on the A340 road between Pangbourne and Theale. The rural area is bounded by the M4 motorway to the south. It is centred 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Pangbourne, 5.5 miles (8.9 km) west of Reading and 40 miles (64 km) west of London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust</span> Wildlife conservation charity

The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), is a Wildlife Trust covering the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartslock</span> Wood and nature reserve in Oxfordshire, UK

Hartslock, also known as Hartslock Woods, is a 41.8-hectare (103-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in a wooded area on the north bank of the River Thames to the south-east of Goring-on-Thames in the English county of Oxfordshire. An area of 29.4 hectares is a Special Area of Conservation and an area of 10 hectares is a nature reserve owned and managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT). The site is well known for the variety of wild orchids that grow on its sloping grassland, and especially for the monkey orchid that grows in very few other places in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moor Copse</span> Nature reserve in Berkshire

Moor Copse is a 65-hectare (160-acre) nature reserve west of Reading in Berkshire. It is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. Parts of it are in Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broadmoor to Bagshot Woods and Heaths</span>

Broadmoor to Bagshot Woods and Heaths is a 1,696.3-hectare (4,192-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Berkshire and Surrey that extend from a minority of the parish of Crowthorne including around Broadmoor Hospital in the west to Bagshot south-east, Bracknell north-east, and Sandhurst, south. It is part of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area. Two nature reserves which are managed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust are in the SSSI, Barossa nature reserve and Poors Allotment. Broadmoor Bottom, which is part of Wildmoor Heath, also falls within the SSSI; this reserve is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bowdown and Chamberhouse Woods</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandhurst to Owlsmoor Bogs and Heaths</span>

Sandhurst to Owlsmoor Bogs and Heaths is an 85.8-hectare (212-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the northern outskirts of Sandhurst in Berkshire. Part of the SSSI is Wildmoor Heath nature reserve, which is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. and the SSSI is part of Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decoy Pit, Pools and Woods</span>

Decoy Pit, Pools and Woods is a 17.7-hectare (44-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Aldermaston in Berkshire. An area of 8 hectares is a nature reserve called Decoy Heath, which is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foxcote Reservoir and Wood</span> 48.3-hectare wildlife site with reservoir and woodland

Foxcote Reservoir and Wood is a 48.3-hectare (119-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Akeley and Maids Moreton in Buckinghamshire, England. An area of 34 hectares is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dancersend</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shabbington Woods Complex</span>

Shabbington Woods Complex is a 305.6-hectare (755-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) between Horton-cum-Studley and Worminghall in Buckinghamshire. It comprises Shabbington Wood, Bernwood Forest, Hell Coppice, Oakley Wood and York's Wood. Shabbington Wood is owned by the Forestry Commission, and a small area of 7.5 hectares called Bernwood Meadows is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Herdon Meadow</span>

Long Herdon Meadow is a 4.5-hectare (11-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Marsh Gibbon in Buckinghamshire. It is part of Upper Ray Meadows nature reserve, which is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inkpen Common SSSI</span>

Inkpen Common or Inkpen Great Common is a 12.8-hectare (32-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Inkpen in Berkshire. It is managed as a nature reserve by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iffley Meadows</span> Island in the River Thames in Oxfordshire

Iffley Meadows is a 36.1-hectare (89-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Oxford in Oxfordshire. It is owned by Oxford City Council and managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lashford Lane Fen</span>

Lashford Lane Fen is a 7-hectare (17-acre) nature reserve north of Dry Sandford in Oxfordshire. It is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. It is part of Cothill Fen, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Designated Sites View: Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  2. "Map of Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  3. "Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  4. "Moor Copse". Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  5. "SSSI name: Sulham And Tidmarsh Woods And Meadows". Natural England. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2009.