Aldbury Nowers facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Hertfordshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 19.7 hectares (49 acres) |
| Notification | 1990 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Aldbury Nowers is a special natural area in Hertfordshire, England. It covers about 19.7 hectares (around 49 acres) and is known for its amazing wildlife and old historical features. This site is officially called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a protected area because of its important plants, animals, or geology.
Aldbury Nowers is located in the Chiltern Hills, which are beautiful rolling hills north-east of a town called Tring. It was given its special protected status in 1990. The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust helps to look after this important place.
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What Makes Aldbury Nowers Special?
Aldbury Nowers is made up of two main parts: a grassy hillside and an ancient woodland. These two areas are connected by a famous walking path called The Ridgeway.
A Haven for Butterflies
One of the most exciting parts of Aldbury Nowers is its grassy hillside. This area has a special type of soil called "calcareous," which means it's rich in lime. This soil is perfect for a unique type of habitat called chalk grassland. Many beautiful wildflowers grow here.
These flowers attract lots of different insects, especially butterflies! Recently, people have counted 34 different kinds of butterflies living here. Some of the special butterflies you might see include:
- The Duke of Burgundy
- Different types of hairstreaks
- The Essex skipper
Ancient Beech Woodland
The other important part of Aldbury Nowers is its "beech hanger." This is a type of ancient woodland found on a steep hillside. An ancient woodland is a forest that has been around for a very long time, often for hundreds of years. Aldbury Nowers has one of the best examples of this kind of woodland in all of Hertfordshire. These old forests are very important for many different plants and animals.
History Hidden in the Landscape
Aldbury Nowers isn't just important for nature; it also has some fascinating historical secrets.
Grim's Ditch
You can find parts of an old earthwork called Grim's Ditch here. This ditch is part of a much longer earthwork, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) long. Experts believe it was built way back in the Iron Age. Imagine people living here thousands of years ago, digging these huge ditches!
Ancient Burial Mounds
The site also has two "bowl barrows." These are ancient mounds of earth that were used as burial sites. They were built a very long time ago, either in the Late Neolithic period or the Bronze Age. These mounds give us clues about how people lived and buried their dead thousands of years ago.
Visiting Aldbury Nowers
Aldbury Nowers is located northwest of the village of Aldbury. It's right next to another special natural area called Pitstone Hill SSSI, which is in Buckinghamshire. From Aldbury Nowers, you can enjoy amazing views over the Tring Gap and the Vale of Aylesbury.
The site is always open to visitors. You can get there by following a footpath from Northfield Road. It's a great place to explore nature and history!
