Bowdown and Chamberhouse Woods facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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Bowdown Woods
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| Area of Search | Berkshire |
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| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 67.9 hectares (168 acres) |
| Notification | 1983 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Bowdown and Chamberhouse Woods are a special place in Berkshire, near Thatcham. These woods cover about 68 hectares (168 acres). They are known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, which means they are very important for their plants and animals.
Most of the woods, about 55 hectares (136 acres), are a nature reserve. This reserve is looked after by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. It is a beautiful area of old woodland. You can find it on a hillside north of Greenham Common, close to Newbury. The nature reserve is open for everyone to visit.
Contents
What Makes This Nature Reserve Special?
This nature reserve is home to many different kinds of trees. It also has a huge variety of plants growing on the ground. You can find lots of different animals here too. It's a great spot for birdwatching. You might also see reptiles, dragonflies, and butterflies.
The Nature Reserve is open for visitors. It has three car parks, all found along Bury's Bank Road. This road is between Greenham and Thatcham. Each car park leads to a different part of the reserve. Each part has its own interesting story.
Baynes Wood: A History of Trees
Baynes Wood is at the southeast end of the reserve. It includes two smaller areas called Great Wood and Parklodge Gully. This part of the woods might have been part of an old park called Chamberhouse Park. Maps from the 1500s already show it as woodland.
For a long time, people would cut trees here in a special way called coppicing. This helps new trees grow back. In 1798, the Tull family bought the wood. They owned it until 1939. Then, a company called Baynes Timber Co bought it. They cut down many of the trees.
After that, new trees grew naturally. But in 1981, more trees were cut down. At this point, the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust decided to help. They first rented the wood, then bought it. Now, they manage it carefully as a nature reserve.
Bowdown Wood: Valleys and Wet Areas
Bowdown Wood is at the other end of the reserve. The first we know about this wood is that the Dorner family bought it in 1920. They sold it to the Wildlife Trust in 1984.
This part of the woods has many valleys cutting through it. There isn't much flowing water here. But there are large areas of ground that are always wet. This creates special habitats for different plants and animals.
The Old Bomb Site: From Military to Wildlife Haven
Between Baynes Wood and Bowdown Wood is an area called the Old Bomb Site. This name might sound a bit strange! It was used by the military during and after World War 2. It was connected to RAF Greenham Common, a nearby air base.
The Wildlife Trust also bought this area. Now, it's a mix of different habitats. You can find heathland, grassy areas, bushes, and woodland. Some old military storage buildings are still there, but they are falling apart. The broken bits of these buildings are good places for reptiles to live.
This section also has concrete paths. The military built these paths. Now, they are great for walking in all weather. They also make it easier for people who can't walk far to explore the site.
West Berkshire Living Landscape: Connecting Nature
Bowdown and Chamberhouse Woods are part of a bigger project. It's called the West Berkshire Living Landscape. The Wildlife Trust leads this project. Its goal is to connect different areas where wildlife lives. Imagine these areas as "islands" of nature. The project wants to link them together. This creates a large area where animals can move freely.
Besides Bowdown and Chamberhouse Woods, this project includes other important places. These are Greenham Common, the River Kennet, and Thatcham Reedbeds. All these areas are linked together. They form a large area of about 27 square kilometers (10 square miles). This space helps both people and wildlife to live well side by side.
