Hardington Moor facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Somerset |
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| Coordinates | 50°54′52″N 2°41′29″W / 50.91441°N 2.69127°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 8.7 hectares (0.087 km2; 0.034 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1994 |
Hardington Moor is a very special nature area in Somerset, England. It covers about 8.7 hectares (that's about 21.5 acres, or the size of 16 football fields!). This place was officially recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1994 because of its amazing plants and animals.
Hardington Moor is also a National Nature Reserve. It has three beautiful meadows surrounded by old, established hedges. The soil here is a mix of clay and chalky material.
Hardington Moor: A Special Place for Nature
Hardington Moor is super important because it has something called "unimproved neutral grassland." This kind of grassland is very rare in the UK now. "Unimproved" means it hasn't been changed much by farming or chemicals. This allows many different kinds of plants to grow naturally.
Amazing Plants You Can Find
The meadows at Hardington Moor are home to a huge variety of plant species. One plant that grows a lot here is the rare French oat-grass. You can also find interesting plants like adder's tongue, which looks like a small green tongue, and corky-fruited water-dropwort.
One of the most exciting finds is the large number of green-winged orchids. These beautiful flowers have unique green stripes on their petals.
Butterflies and Other Cool Creatures
Hardington Moor isn't just for plants; it's also a great spot for insects, especially butterflies! You can often see common butterflies like the gatekeeper, small tortoiseshell, and common blue fluttering around.
If you're lucky, you might also spot some less common butterflies. These include the large skipper, which is a fast-flying butterfly, the green-veined white, and the beautiful green hairstreak. These insects play a vital role in the ecosystem, helping to pollinate the many plants in the meadows.
