Aldermaston Gravel Pits facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 24.6 hectares |
| Notification | 1983 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Aldermaston Gravel Pits is a really special place for nature, located north of Aldermaston in Berkshire. It covers about 24.6 hectares, which is like 45 football fields! This area is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its amazing wildlife.
In 2003, a group called Natural England bought this land to help protect it even more.
Contents
Aldermaston Gravel Pits: A Home for Wildlife
Aldermaston Gravel Pits is a unique natural area. It used to be a place where people dug up gravel, but now it's filled with water. These flooded areas are surrounded by lots of plants, trees, and bushes. This mix creates many different kinds of homes for birds and other animals.
Why is This Place Special?
The way the land is shaped here is very important. It has a wiggly shoreline with small islands, bits of land sticking out (called promontories), and calm, shallow pools. There are also narrow, watery channels. All these different spots offer quiet places where many water birds can live without being disturbed.
Amazing Water Birds
You can find many types of ducks here, especially those that feed on the surface of the water. These include the teal (Anas crecca) and the shoveler (Anas clypeata).
Birds of the Marsh and Bushes
The wet, marshy areas and the thick bushes around the pits are also super important for birds. Many different kinds of birds live and raise their families here.
- You might spot nine different types of warblers. These are small, active birds known for their songs.
- Water rails (Rallus aquaticus) also live here. They are shy birds that like to hide in the reeds.
- Keep an eye out for bright blue kingfishers (Alcedoa atthis). They are famous for diving into the water to catch fish.
- Aldermaston Gravel Pits is also home to a very important group of nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos). These birds are famous for their beautiful and powerful songs, especially at night.
This special site helps protect all these wonderful creatures and their homes.
