Holies Down facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 5.6 hectares (14 acres) |
| Notification | 1988 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Holies Down is a special place in Berkshire, England. It covers about 5.6 hectares, which is roughly the size of seven football fields! This area is south of a village called Streatley and is known for its amazing nature.
Holies Down is part of the North Wessex Downs, which is a very beautiful area. It's even called an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, meaning it's a landscape that is protected because of its special charm. The National Trust, an organization that looks after important places, helps care for Holies Down. It's actually next to two other National Trust spots: Lardon Chase and Lough Down.
Contents
What is Holies Down?
Holies Down is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI for short. This means it's a protected area because it has rare wildlife, plants, or geology. The government recognizes these places as very important for nature.
A Special Place for Nature
This sloping area is a unique type of grassland called "unimproved chalk grassland." This means the grassy land grows on chalky soil and hasn't been changed much by people. It's kept healthy by animals grazing, which helps different plants grow.
Plants You Might See
The grass here is made up of many different kinds of plants. These include various types of sedges and grasses.
Grasses and Sedges
You might find plants like glaucous sedge, which is a grass-like plant. There are also different fescues, such as red fescue and sheep's fescue. Other interesting grasses include quaking grass, which has delicate flowers that tremble in the breeze, and yellow oat-grass. You can also spot upright brome and tor-grass. These plants create a rich habitat for many small creatures.
Visiting Holies Down
You can visit Holies Down! There is access to this beautiful natural area from the A329 road. It's a great place to explore and enjoy the outdoors.
