Arncott Bridge Meadows facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Oxfordshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 8.7 hectares |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Arncott Bridge Meadows is a special natural area in Oxfordshire, England. It covers about 8.7 hectares, which is like 12 football fields. This area is protected because it has important plants and wildlife. It is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Contents
Discover Arncott Bridge Meadows
Arncott Bridge Meadows is a unique place. It helps us understand how nature works. Scientists study the plants and soil here. This site is important for protecting rare species.
What Makes This Meadow Special?
Arncott Bridge Meadows is next to the River Ray. It is in the river's flood plain. This means the area sometimes gets covered by water. This makes the soil very wet in some places.
The meadows are very old. They have not been ploughed for hundreds of years. You can still see old "ridge and furrow" patterns. These are bumps and dips left from medieval farming. They show how people used to grow crops long ago.
The soil here is made of Oxford Clay. This type of clay holds a lot of water. Because of this, some parts of the meadow are wet for much of the year. Other parts are drier. This mix of wet and dry areas helps many different plants grow.
Plants and Wildlife
Arncott Bridge Meadows is home to many kinds of plants. In the wetter areas, you might find plants like false fox-sedge. In the drier spots, you can see crested dog's-tail.
Some plants here are quite rare. One special plant is the narrow-leaved water-dropwort. It is not common in the UK. The river bank also has unusual plants that like wet conditions. These plants make the meadows a very important place for nature.
Visiting the Meadows
Arncott Bridge Meadows is private land. This means you cannot walk into the meadows. However, you can still see this special place. You can view the meadows from Ploughley Road. This allows you to appreciate its beauty from a distance.
