Wytham Woods

Last updated
Wytham Woods
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Wytham Great Wood - geograph.org.uk - 908888.jpg
Location Oxfordshire
Grid reference SP 463 080 [1]
InterestBiological
Area423.8 hectares (1,047 acres) [1]
Notification 1986 [1]
Location map Magic Map

Wytham Woods is a 423.8-hectare (1,047-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest north-west of Oxford in Oxfordshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review site. [1] [2]

Contents

Habitats in this site, which formerly belonged to Abingdon Abbey, [lower-alpha 1] include ancient woodland and limestone grassland. Over 500 species of vascular plant have been recorded, and probably more data about the bird, mammal, and invertebrate fauna have been recorded about this site than any other in the country as a result of studies by the University of Oxford. More than 900 species of beetles, 580 flies, 200 spiders, 700 bees, wasps and ants, 250 true bugs, and 27 earthworms have been recorded. [3] An important aspect of these data is that they are long-term, with bird data dating back for over 60 years, badger data for over 30 years and climate change data for the last 18 years. [4] Although the majority of the research activity is Oxford-based, any organisation can use the site, with permission.

Current projects include the continuation of long-term study of blue and great tits, bats and climate change, but also newly created projects such as the Darwin Tree of Life project, in conjunction with the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

Access is only allowed with a permit from the owner, the University of Oxford. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wytham</span> Human settlement in England

Wytham is a village and civil parish on the Seacourt Stream, a branch of the River Thames, about 3 miles (5 km) northwest of the centre of Oxford. It is just west of the Western By-Pass Road, part of the Oxford Ring Road (A34). The nearest village is Godstow. Wytham was the northernmost part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire. The toponym is first recorded as Wihtham around 957, and comes from the Old English for a homestead or village in a river-bend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wytham Abbey</span> Grade I listed Manor House in Wytham, England

Wytham Abbey is a privately-owned Grade I listed historic manor house situated in the village of Wytham, 3 miles northwest of the centre of Oxford, England, near the River Thames.

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

Bix Bottom is a 102.3-hectare (253-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest north-west of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. It is owned and managed as Warburg Nature Reserve by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesnes Abbey Woods</span> Area of ancient woodland in southeast London, England

Lesnes Abbey Woods, sometimes known as Abbey Wood, is a 73 ha ancient woodland in southeast London, England. It is located near to, and named after, the ruined Lesnes Abbey in the London Borough of Bexley and gives its name to the Abbey Wood district. The woods are adjacent to Bostall Woods.

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

Lye Valley is a 2.3-hectare (5.7-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Headington, a suburb of Oxford in Oxfordshire. It is part of the 4.5-hectare (11-acre) Lye Valley Local Nature Reserve, which is owned and managed by Oxford City Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbey Wood SSSI</span>

Abbey Wood is a 6.3-hectare (16-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Abbey Wood in the London Borough of Bexley. It is located in Lesnes Abbey Woods south-east of the ruins of Lesnes Abbey. Members of the public can dig for fossils in a small area designated as the Fossil Bed with the permission of the Lesnes Abbey ranger.

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

Sheephouse Wood is a 56.9-hectare (141-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Charndon in Buckinghamshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frilford Heath, Ponds and Fens</span>

Frilford Heath, Ponds and Fens is a 108.8-hectare (269-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Frilford, west of Abingdon in Oxfordshire. An area of 3 hectares, separate from the main site is Hitchcopse Pit, a nature reserve managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Blean and Thornden Woods</span> Ancient woodland and conservation site in Kent, England

West Blean and Thornden Woods is a 781-hectare (1,930-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest north of Canterbury in Kent. It is part of the Blean Woods Nature Conservation Review site, and an area of 490 hectares is a nature reserve managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust. The woods form one of the largest areas of ancient woodland in the UK, with parts of it over 1,000 years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brasenose Wood and Shotover Hill</span>

Brasenose Wood and Shotover Hill is a 109.2-hectare (270-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the eastern outskirts of Oxford in Oxfordshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review site.

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

Harpsden Wood is a 29.4-hectare (73-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. It is owned by the Woodland Trust and is open to the public.

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

Waterperry Wood is a 137-hectare (340-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) east of Oxford in Oxfordshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, and is owned and managed by the Forestry Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitecross Green and Oriel Woods</span>

Whitecross Green and Oriel Woods is a 63-hectare (160-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Oxford and Bicester in Oxfordshire. It is owned and managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust under the name Whitecross Green Wood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ardley Cutting and Quarry</span>

Ardley Cutting and Quarry is a 40.1-hectare (99-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest north-west of Bicester in Oxfordshire. It is a Geological Conservation Review site and an area of 11 hectares is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust as Ardley Wood Quarry. The site contains a Scheduled Monument, Ardley Wood moated ringwork, a Norman defended enclosure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cothill Fen</span> Protected area in Oxfordshire, England

Cothill Fen is a 43.3-hectare (107-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest north-west of Abingdon-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. It is a Special Area of Conservation and parts of it are a Geological Conservation Review site, a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 1, and a National Nature Reserve. It also includes two areas which are nature reserves managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, Lashford Lane Fen and Parsonage Moor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Meadow with Wolvercote Common and Green</span>

Port Meadow with Wolvercote Common and Green is a 167.1-hectare (413-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Oxford in Oxfordshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, and part of Oxford Meadows Special Area of Conservation. The remains of Godstow Abbey, which is a Scheduled Monument, are in the north of the site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butter Wood</span> UK Site of Special Scientific Interest

Butter Wood is a 133-hectare (330-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) east of Basingstoke in Hampshire. Part of Up Nately LNR, which is designated a Local Nature Reserve, is in the SSSI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wytham Ditches and Flushes</span>

Wytham Ditches and Flushes is a 2.7-hectare (6.7-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest north of Oxford in Oxfordshire.

References

Notes

Citations


  1. 1 2 3 4 "Designated Sites View: Wytham Woods". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  2. "Map of Wytham Woods". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  3. "Wytham Woods citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  4. "Research". www.wythamwoods.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  5. "Walking Permit Application". University of Oxford. Retrieved 30 March 2020.

51°46′08″N1°19′48″W / 51.769°N 1.330°W / 51.769; -1.330