List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Oxfordshire

The following is a list of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Oxfordshire, a county in South East England. It has an area of 2,605 square kilometres and a population of 648,700. In England, the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which is responsible for protecting England's natural environment. Notification as an SSSI gives legal protection to the best sites for wildlife and geology.[1] As of 2011, there are 110 SSSIs in this Area of Search, 76 of which have been designated for biological interest, 27 for geological interest, and 7 for both biological and geological interest.[2]

For other counties, see List of SSSIs by Area of Search.

The data in the table is taken from English Nature's website in the form of citation sheets for each SSSI.[3]

Sites

Site name Reason for designation Area[A] Grid reference[B][C] Year in which notified[D] Map[E] Location
Biological interest Geological interest Hectares Acres
Alvescot Meadows Y 2.7 6.7 SP273050 & SP278049 1992 [1] Alvescot
Appleton Lower Common Y 43.3 117.0 SP425007 1986 [2] Appleton
Ardley Cutting and Quarry Y Y 40.1 99.1 SP540269 1988 [3] Ardley
Ardley Trackways Y 63.6 157.1 SP540248 2010 [4] Ardley
Arncott Bridge Meadows Y 8.7 21.4 SP608185 1985 [5] Ambrosden
Ashdown Park Y 9.2 22.7 SU285820 1986 [6] Lambourn
Aston Rowant Y Y 128.5 317.5 SU728972 1988 [7] Aston Rowant
Aston Rowant Cutting Y 4.0 9.8 SU728965 to SU737965 1986 [8] Aston Rowant
Aston Rowant Woods Y 209.7 518 SU750984 1986 [9] Aston Rowant
Aston Upthorpe Downs Y 38.7 95.7 SU545834 & SU536835 1984 [10] Cholsey
Barrow Farm Fen Y 6.6 16.3 SU468975 1986 [11] Abingdon
Bear, Oveys and Great Bottom Woods Y 58.6 144.8 SU693840 & SU703830 1986 [12] Henley-on-Thames
Berins Hill Bank Y 1.8 4.4 SU654852 1986 [13] Cholsey
Berrick Trench Y 2.0 5.0 SU705882 1988 [14] Henley-on-Thames
Bestmoor Y 12.4 30.6 SP493297 1990 [15] Deddington
Bix Bottom Y 103.0 245.5 SU715880 1986 [16] Henley-on-Thames
Blenheim Park Y 225.2 556.6 SP435167 1986 [17] Woodstock
Bould Wood Y 58.7 145.0 SP253205 1986 [18] Bruern
Brasenose Wood and Shotover Hill Y 109.5 270.6 SP567058 1986 [19] Oxford
Buckland Warren Y 0.03 0.07 SU333963 1993 [20] Buckland
Cassington Meadows Y 7.0 17.4 SP463101 1993 [21] Cassington
Chimney Meadows Y 49.7 122.8 SP352000 1986 [22] Buckland
Chinnor Chalk Pit Y 66.1 163.3 SU755998 1986 [23] Chinnor
Chinnor Hill Y 27.3 67.4 SP766007 1986 [24] Chinnor
Cothill Fen Y 43.6 107.6 SU456993 – SP468013 1993 [25] Abingdon
Culham Brake Y 1.4 3.5 SU508964 1985 [26] Abingdon
Cumnor Y 0.2 0.5 SP46040325 & SP46180324 1990 [27] Cumnor
Ditchley Road Quarry Y 12.2 30.2 SP370200 1986 [28] Charlbury
Dry Sandford Pit Y Y 4 10 SU467995 1986 [29] Abingdon
Ducklington Mead Y 5.6 13.8 SP363077 1986 [30] Witney
Fernham Meadows Y 21.9 54.1 SU294907 1990 [31] Faringdon
Frilford Heath, Ponds and Fens Y 110.2 272.4 SU442985 1986 [32] Abingdon
Glyme Valley Y 28.4 70.3 SP340259 1988 [33] Chipping Norton
Grafton Lock Meadow Y 11.1 27.4 SU273991 1986 [34] Faringdon
Hackpen, Warren & Gramp's Hill Downs Y 72.9 180.1 SU355845 1986 [35] Letcombe Bassett
Harpsden Wood Y 25.8 63.8 SU761804 1990 [36] Henley-on-Thames
Hartslock Y 42.2 104.2 SU619793 1986 [37] Goring-on-Thames
Highlands Farm Pit Y 0.6 1.4 SU744813 1986 [38] Henley-on-Thames
Holly Court Bank Y 4.6 11.4 SP387152 1986 [39] Woodstock
Holly Wood Y 24.2 60.2 SP588100 1986 [40] Beckley
Holton Wood Y 49.5 122.3 SP603080 1984 [41] Oxford
Hook Meadow and The Trap Grounds Y 11.3 27.9 SP496092 to SP502087 1986 [42] Oxford
Hook Norton Cutting & Banks Y Y 6.8 16.7 SP360320 1986 [43] Chipping Norton
Horsehay Quarries Y 8.2 20.6 SP456273 & SP456276 1987 [44] Steeple Aston
Hurst Hill Y Y 20.6 51.0 SP477043 1986 [45] Cumnor
Iffley Meadows Y 36.2 89.5 SP524038 1986 [46] Oxford
Kirtlington Quarry Y 3.3 8.2 SP494199 1986 [47] Kirtlington
Knightsbridge Lane Y 1.7 4.3 SU683969 1987 [48] Watlington
Lamb and Flag Quarry Y 0.2 0.4 SU380974 1986 [49] Southmoor
Lambridge Wood Y 73.8 182.3 SU734845 1984 [50] Henley-on-Thames
Langley's Lane Meadow Y 3.5 8.6 SP391015 1985 [51] Standlake
Little Tew Meadows Y 40.0 98.0 SP377281 1995 [52] Chipping Norton
Little Wittenham Y 68.8 169.9 SU571929 2000 [53] Wallingford
Littlemore Railway Cutting Y 0.5 1.3 SP532028 1986 [54] Oxford
Littleworth Brick Pit Y 1.2 3.9 SP588054 1987 [55] Wheatley
Long Hanborough Gravel Pit Y 4.3 10.6 SP419137 1986 [56] Long Hanborough
Lye Valley Y 2.5 6.3 SP548052 & SP547058 1987 [57] Oxford
Lyehill Quarry Y 3.0 7.5 SP592068 1986 [58] Wheatley
Magdalen Grove Y 0.4 1.0 SP520065 1991 [59] Oxford
Magdalen Quarry Y 0.4 1.0 SP552071 1986 [60] Oxford
Middle Barton Fen Y 11.3 27.9 SP443263 1990 [61] Westcott Barton
Moulsford Downs Y 11.3 28.0 SU578827 1986 [62] Moulsford
Murcott Meadows Y 22.8 56.3 SP593139 1986 [63] Oxford
Neithrop Fields Cutting Y 1.5 3.8 SP593139 1986 [64] Banbury
New Marston Meadows Y 44.4 109.7 SP520076 1993 [65] Oxford
Otmoor Y 211.6 522.9 SP575130 1988 [66] Beckley
Out Wood Y 19.2 47.5 SP408208 1986 [67] Charlbury
Pishill Woods Y 42.2 104.1 SU715901 & SU713905 1984 [68] Watlington
Pixey and Yarnton Meads Y 85.6 211.5 SP480105 1986 [69] Oxford
Port Meadow With Wolvercote Common & Green Y 166.7 411.9 SP495083 1986 [70] Oxford
Priest's Hill Y 1.0 2.6 SU700872 1986 [71] Nettlebed
Reed Hill Y 14.0 34.5 SP380173 1987 [72] Charlbury
Rock Edge Y 1.8 4.5 SP550064 1986 [73] Oxford
Rushy Meadows Y 8.7 21.6 SP481143 1985 [74] Kidlington
Salt Way, Ditchley Y 2.1 5.2 SP384195 1988 [75] Charlbury
Sarsgrove Wood Y 41.5 102.5 SP305243 1985 [76] Chipping Norton
Sharp's Hill Quarry Y 2.4 5.8 SP338359 1986 [77] Hook Norton
Sheep's Banks Y 5.1 12.5 SP443210 1986 [78] Woodstock
Shellingford Crossroads Quarry Y 2.6 6.4 SU326942 1986 [79] Faringdon
Shipton-on-Cherwell & Whitehill Farm Quarries Y 27.7 68.3 SP474176 & SP478186 1986 [80] Woodstock
Shirburn Hill Y 64.5 159.5 SU715955 1986 [81] Watlington
Sidling's Copse and College Pond Y 22.2 54.9 SP555095 1986 [82] Oxford
Spartum Fen Y 8.0 19.7 SP654016 1986 [83] Thame
Stanton Great Wood Y 57.5 142.2 SP588093 1987 [84] Oxford
Stanton Harcourt Y 0.7 1.7 SP414051 1990 [85] Stanton Harcourt
Stonesfield Common, Bottoms & Banks Y 27.5 67.8 SP392166 1989 [86] Woodstock
Stonesfield Slate Mines Y 0.8 1.9 SP392172 & SP388168 & SP379173 & SP387171 1986 [87] Woodstock
Stratton Audley Quarries Y 8.7 21.5 SP60052545 & SP602250 1986 [88] Bicester
Sturt Copse Y 5.3 12.9 SP400150 1987 [89] Woodstock
Sugworth Y 0.6 1.4 SP513008 1986 [90] Abingdon
Swyncombe Downs Y 46.4 115.1 SU672915 1984 [91] Wallingford
Taynton Quarries Y 41.1 101.6 SP235150 1988 [92] Burford
Tuckmill Meadows Y 6.1 15.1 SU240900 1988 [93] Watchfield
Warren Bank Y 3.1 7.5 SU653857 1986 [94] Wallingford
Waterperry Wood Y 140.2 346.4 SP605090 1986 [95] Oxford
Watlington and Pyrton Hills Y 110.9 273.9 SU705936 1986 [96] Watlington
Wendlebury Meads and Mansmoor Closes Y 73.2 180.9 SP562175 1986 [97] Bicester
Weston Fen Y 13.0 32.1 SP526194 1986 [98] Bicester
Westwell Gorse Y 2.4 5.8 SP219113 1994 [99] Burford
Whitecross Green and Oriel Woods Y 64.1 158.4 SP603144 1985 [100] Beckley
Whitehill Wood Y 3.4 8.4 SP391155 1986 [101] Woodstock
White Horse Hill Y Y 103.2 254.9 SU302868 1986 [102] Uffington
Wicklesham and Coxwell Pits Y 12.8 31.6 SU285942 & SU289941 & SU292942 1986 [103] Faringdon
Wolvercote Meadows Y 9.2 22.7 SP484096 1986 [104] Oxford
Woodeaton Quarry Y 6.4 15.8 SP533123 1986 [105] Beckley
Woodeaton Wood Y 14.1 34.9 SP450112 1986 [106] Beckley
Worsham Lane Y 0.5 1.3 SP308096 1986 [107] Witney
Wychwood Y Y 530.5 1,310.9 SP332158 1988 [108] Charlbury
Wytham Ditches and Flushes Y 5.7 14.0 SP465098 1986 [109] Oxford
Wytham Woods Y 426.5 1,053.8 SP462083 1986 [110] Oxford

Notes

A Data rounded to one decimal place.
B Grid reference is based on the British national grid reference system, also known as OSGB36, and is the system used by the Ordnance Survey.[4]
C Those SSSIs with more than one OS grid reference are composed of multiple sections, separated by non-SSSI land.[4]
D This list uses the date notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
E Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by Natural England.

References

  1. ^ Natural England, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, The designation process
  2. ^ Natural England, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Search results for Oxfordshireshire
  3. ^ Natural England citation sheets for each SSSI. Retrieved on 2011-12-06. (PDF files).
  4. ^ a b "Guide to National Grid". Ordnance Survey. http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/help.html#gridref. Retrieved 2011-11-30. 
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