Hankley Farm facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Surrey |
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| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 2.4 hectares (5.9 acres) |
| Notification | 1994 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Hankley Farm is a special natural area in Surrey, England. It covers about 2.4 hectares (which is roughly the size of five football fields). This site is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because it's home to a very rare plant.
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What is a Site of Special Scientific Interest?
A Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI, is a protected area in the United Kingdom. These places are chosen because they have important wildlife, plants, or unique geological features. Hankley Farm is a "biological" SSSI, meaning it's protected for its living things, especially a particular plant.
The Amazing Red-Tipped Cudweed
The main reason Hankley Farm is so special is because of a plant called red-tipped cudweed. This plant is very rare and is considered "nationally endangered," which means there are very few of them left in the country.
Why is Red-Tipped Cudweed So Rare?
Long ago, red-tipped cudweed was a common plant found in farm fields. These fields, called "arable fields," are used for growing crops. However, since the 1960s, the number of these plants has dropped sharply. This decline happened because of changes in farming methods and the use of chemicals.
Hankley Farm's Importance
The red-tipped cudweed plants at Hankley Farm, along with those in nearby fields, are incredibly important. They make up about half of all the red-tipped cudweed plants left in Britain! This makes Hankley Farm a vital place for protecting this endangered species.
Protecting Hankley Farm
Because Hankley Farm is so important for the survival of the red-tipped cudweed, it is private land. This means there is no public access to the site. Keeping it undisturbed helps protect the rare plants and allows them to grow safely.
