List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Berkshire facts for kids

Lardon Chase is a special place in Berkshire.

Imagine places in England that are so important for nature or geology that they have special protection. These are called Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). Natural England is the group in charge of finding and protecting these amazing spots.

Berkshire is a county in England with a population of over 860,000 people. It has beautiful areas like the River Thames and River Kennet valleys, and chalk hills in the west. Even though it's not an administrative county anymore, it's still looked after by six local councils: Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham.

As of 2019, Berkshire has 70 SSSIs! Most of them (62) are special because of their amazing wildlife, like rare plants and animals. The other 8 are important for their unique rocks and land formations. Many of these sites also have other special protections, like being Ramsar sites (important wetlands) or Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for protecting certain habitats and species. Some are even managed by groups like the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) or the National Trust, which help look after them.

Discover Berkshire's Special Nature Sites

Site Name	Photo	B	G	Area	Access	Location	Other	Map and Info	What Makes it Special
Aldermaston Gravel Pits		Y		24.6 hectares (61 acres)	YES	Aldermaston 51°23′49″N 1°08′42″W / 51.397°N 1.145°W / 51.397; -1.145 (Aldermaston Gravel Pits) SU596668		Map Citation	These old gravel pits are now flooded, creating a peaceful home for many water birds like teal and shoveler. The areas around the pits have marshland and woods, which are also important for birds. Over 64 different types of birds have been seen nesting here!
Ashridge Wood		Y		15.9 hectares (39 acres)	NO	Compton 51°30′04″N 1°16′59″W / 51.501°N 1.283°W / 51.501; -1.283 (Ashridge Wood) SU499782		Map Citation	This woodland has oak trees and other smaller trees and bushes. It grows on chalk and clay soils. You can find rare plants here like spiked star-of-Bethlehem and autumn crocus. These plants are at the edge of where they normally grow in Britain.
Avery's Pightle		Y		1.3 hectares (3.2 acres)	YES	Enborne 51°22′59″N 1°22′34″W / 51.383°N 1.376°W / 51.383; -1.376 (Avery's Pightle) SU435651	BBOWT	Map Citation	This meadow is full of different plant species. It has old "ridge and furrow" patterns, which means it's been managed the traditional way for a long time. This helps keep it healthy without modern chemicals. Over 24 types of grass and 113 different herbs have been found here. There's also a wet ditch with a special grass called water whorl grass.
Bisham Woods		Y		86.0 hectares (213 acres)	YES	Cookham 51°33′25″N 0°45′54″W / 51.557°N 0.765°W / 51.557; -0.765 (Bisham Woods) SU857849	LNR, SAC	Map Citation	This site is mostly woodland with broad-leaved trees growing on chalky soil. It has one of the richest collections of ground plants in the county, with dog's mercury and ivy being common. You can also find special snails here that like chalky, ancient woodlands.
Blackwater Valley		Y		33.9 hectares (84 acres)	PP	Sandhurst 51°20′13″N 0°47′06″W / 51.337°N 0.785°W / 51.337; -0.785 (Blackwater Valley) SU847605		Map Citation	The River Blackwater flows through this site. It has wet woods, swamps, and meadows that flood sometimes. These meadows have old grassland plants and are a rare habitat in the country. There's also a rare plant called Carex elongata in the deciduous woodland.
Bowdown and Chamberhouse Woods		Y		67.9 hectares (168 acres)	PP	Thatcham 51°23′06″N 1°16′12″W / 51.385°N 1.270°W / 51.385; -1.270 (Bowdown and Chamberhouse Woods) SU508654	BBOWT	Map Citation	This site has different types of land, including heathland and grasslands on sandy and clay soils. The lower areas have woodlands with many plants. There are also deep valleys with clean streams. Many different insects live here, making it a very rich habitat.
Boxford Chalk Pit			Y	0.4 hectares (0.99 acres)	YES	Boxford 51°26′38″N 1°22′59″W / 51.444°N 1.383°W / 51.444; -1.383 (Boxford Chalk Pit) SU430719	GCR	Map Citation	This site shows unique layers of chalk rock from about 87 to 84 million years ago. These layers are tilted and contain broken pieces of hard rock, which tell scientists about ancient earth movements. You can also find fossilized animal waste (coprolites) and tiny fish teeth here!
Boxford Water Meadows		Y		13.9 hectares (34 acres)	NO	Boxford 51°26′38″N 1°23′10″W / 51.444°N 1.386°W / 51.444; -1.386 (Boxford Water Meadows) SU428718	SAC	Map Citation	These meadows are old "water meadows" and flood pastures near the River Lambourn. They have many types of grass and herbs, including some that only grow in ancient meadows that haven't been changed by modern farming. There are also lots of different insects here.
Bray Meadows		Y		6.6 hectares (16 acres)	NO	Maidenhead 51°30′43″N 0°42′32″W / 51.512°N 0.709°W / 51.512; -0.709 (Bray Meadows) SU898800		Map Citation	These meadows are next to a part of the River Thames and have many different plants. You can find rare riverbank plants here, like the parasitic greater dodder. There are also typical damp meadow plants like meadow barley and meadowsweet. One field even has lots of ant hills!
Bray Pennyroyal Field		Y		3.5 hectares (8.6 acres)	NO	Maidenhead 51°29′42″N 0°40′59″W / 51.495°N 0.683°W / 51.495; -0.683 (Bray Pennyroyal Field) SU915782		Map Citation	This field, which used to be a gravel pit, is the only place in the county where you can find the rare plant pennyroyal. This plant is listed in the British Red Data Book because it's so uncommon. Horses grazing here actually help the plant grow!
Briff Lane Meadows		Y		8.9 hectares (22 acres)	NO	Thatcham 51°25′41″N 1°13′12″W / 51.428°N 1.220°W / 51.428; -1.220 (Briff Lane Meadows) SU544702		Map Citation	These meadows have old, traditionally managed grasslands, a small stream, and woodland edges. Most of the site gets very wet at certain times of the year. But there are also dry areas with lots of cowslip, heath-grass, and dyer's greenweed.
Brimpton Pit			Y	1.6 hectares (4.0 acres)	YES	Brimpton 51°22′52″N 1°11′24″W / 51.381°N 1.190°W / 51.381; -1.190 (Brimpton Pit) SU565650	GCR	Map Citation	This old gravel pit holds fossils of shells and pollen from a warm period about 80,000 years ago. This warm period was first discovered here and is called the Brimpton Interstadial. The pit also helps scientists understand how the River Thames and its smaller rivers developed over time.
Broadmoor to Bagshot Woods and Heaths		Y		1,696.3 hectares (4,192 acres)	PP	Sandhurst 51°23′10″N 0°44′31″W / 51.386°N 0.742°W / 51.386; -0.742 (Broadmoor to Bagshot Woods and Heaths) SU 877 640	BBOWT, SPA, SWT	Map Citation	These woods have many different habitats, including broadleaf trees, conifer forests, heathland, and ponds. The heathland and forests are very important for three special birds: woodlarks, nightjars, and Dartford warblers. You can also find many dragonflies and damselflies here.
Cannoncourt Farm Pit			Y	0.3 hectares (0.74 acres)	YES	Maidenhead 51°32′20″N 0°44′13″W / 51.539°N 0.737°W / 51.539; -0.737 (Cannoncourt Farm Pit) SU877830	GCR	Map Citation	In the early 1900s, many ancient stone tools were found in these gravel pits. These tools were made by early humans, possibly Neanderthals, between 350,000 and 200,000 years ago. The biggest hand axe ever found was discovered here! This site helps us understand how early humans lived in the area.
Catmore and Winterly Copses		Y		25.0 hectares (62 acres)	FP	Kintbury 51°23′28″N 1°27′43″W / 51.391°N 1.462°W / 51.391; -1.462 (Catmore and Winterly Copses) SU375659		Map Citation	This wet woodland is mainly hazel trees with some oak trees. It has one of the richest collections of ground plants in the county. You can find many plants that grow in old woodlands, like dog's mercury, moschatel, and yellow archangel.
Chawridge Bourne		Y		9.3 hectares (23 acres)	YES	Winkfield 51°27′14″N 0°42′54″W / 51.454°N 0.715°W / 51.454; -0.715 (Chawridge Bourne) SU894736	BBOWT	Map Citation	This site is named after the stream that runs through it. Half of it is untouched grassland, kept healthy by grazing sheep. There are also areas of bushes and broadleaf woodland. On the east side, there's an old hedge that marks a parish boundary, with many different types of trees.
Cleeve Hill		Y		5.0 hectares (12 acres)	NO	Lambourn 51°29′10″N 1°31′23″W / 51.486°N 1.523°W / 51.486; -1.523 (Cleeve Hill) SU332765		Map Citation	Cleeve Hill is a chalk grassland slope with some bushes. You can find the rare Chiltern gentian here, which is the most westerly place it's known to grow. There are also many greater butterfly and twayblade orchids. This site is also very important for its butterflies.
Cock Marsh		Y		18.3 hectares (45 acres)	YES	Cookham 51°34′16″N 0°43′37″W / 51.571°N 0.727°W / 51.571; -0.727 (Cock Marsh) SU882866	NT	Map Citation	This site has many different meadow habitats in a small area, including wet grassland and chalky grassland. Horses, cattle, and rabbits help manage the land by grazing. There are also several ponds, and the site floods sometimes, which helps keep its plant life rich and diverse.
Cold Ash Quarry			Y	0.4 hectares (0.99 acres)	NO	Curridge 51°26′20″N 1°16′55″W / 51.439°N 1.282°W / 51.439; -1.282 (Cold Ash Quarry) SU500714	GCR	Map Citation	The rocks in this site were formed by a river about 60 million years ago. You can find well-preserved fossils of flowering plant leaves here. This is the only place in Britain with fossil evidence of insects called leaf miners. Scientists have done important research at this site.
Combe Wood and Linkenholt Hanging		Y		106.5 hectares (263 acres)	FP	Inkpen 51°19′59″N 1°29′20″W / 51.333°N 1.489°W / 51.333; -1.489 (Combe Wood and Linkenholt Hanging) SU357595		Map Citation	Most of this site is natural woodland on shallow, rich soils. There are also areas of woods on chalk and acid soils, plus some chalk grassland. The woods are home to many fallow deer and birds. The grassland has many different chalk plants and various insects.
Coombe Wood, Frilsham		Y		19.3 hectares (48 acres)	NO	Frilsham 51°27′32″N 1°13′01″W / 51.459°N 1.217°W / 51.459; -1.217 (Coombe Wood, Frilsham) SU545736		Map Citation	This wood was first mentioned in 1640! It has many different habitats and plants, including species typical of ancient woodlands like pale sedge and golden rod. You might also see beautiful butterflies like white admirals and dark green fritillaries here.
Croker's Hole		Y		4.4 hectares (11 acres)	YES	Lambourn 51°32′06″N 1°32′10″W / 51.535°N 1.536°W / 51.535; -1.536 (Croker's Hole) SU323820		Map Citation	This narrow grassland valley is one of the most flower-rich chalk grasslands in Berkshire. Common plants include upright brome and tor-grass. It's also the only place in the county where you can find the rare plant bastard toadflax.
Decoy Pit, Pools and Woods		Y		17.7 hectares (44 acres)	YES	Aldermaston 51°21′54″N 1°07′26″W / 51.365°N 1.124°W / 51.365; -1.124 (Decoy Pit, Pools and Woods) SU611632	BBOWT	Map Citation	This site has many different habitats, including heathland, woods, grasslands, and ponds. It's home to 23 types of breeding dragonflies and damselflies, which is the highest number in the county! Rare animals here include woodlarks, silver-studded blue butterflies, and Devon carpet moths.
Easton Farm Meadow		Y		1.6 hectares (4.0 acres)	NO	Boxford 51°26′46″N 1°24′00″W / 51.446°N 1.400°W / 51.446; -1.400 (Easton Farm Meadow) SU418721		Map Citation	This untouched meadow is a rare habitat in the county, with many different herbs. It's next to the River Lambourn, and part of it is too wet for hay cutting. This creates a rich home for many insects. You can find marsh plants like yellow iris and early marsh-orchid here.
Enborne Copse		Y		11.9 hectares (29 acres)	NO	Newbury 51°23′28″N 1°22′44″W / 51.391°N 1.379°W / 51.391; -1.379 (Enborne Copse) SU433660	NCR	Map Citation	This natural woodland has many small-leaved lime trees, which are rare in Berkshire. The wood is surrounded by an old bank and ditch from medieval times. While some of the wood is now a conifer plantation, the SSSI area still looks like it did hundreds of years ago.
Englemere Pond		Y		26.1 hectares (64 acres)	YES	Ascot 51°24′29″N 0°42′00″W / 51.408°N 0.700°W / 51.408; -0.700 (Englemere Pond) SU904685	LNR	Map Citation	This large pond is surrounded by a swampy area with lots of common reed. You can also find special plants like bog mosses and sundew here. The swamp is a home for many breeding birds, such as sedge warblers and reed buntings. There are also woods and a small heathland nearby.
Fognam Chalk Quarry			Y	3.0 hectares (7.4 acres)	NO	Lambourn 51°31′01″N 1°34′30″W / 51.517°N 1.575°W / 51.517; -1.575 (Fognam Chalk Quarry) SU297799	GCR	Map Citation	This old quarry is the best place in southern England to see a thin layer of chalk from about 80 million years ago. It contains ammonite fossils, which are important for comparing this site to similar ones in Europe.
Freeman's Marsh		Y		26.1 hectares (64 acres)	YES	Hungerford 51°24′54″N 1°31′41″W / 51.415°N 1.528°W / 51.415; -1.528 (Freeman's Marsh) SU329686		Map Citation	Freeman's Marsh is in the flood plain of the River Dun. It has untouched meadows that have been managed by grazing for a long time, along with marshland and reedbeds. Many birds nest here, including snipe, little grebes, and mute swans.
Great Thrift Wood		Y		14.2 hectares (35 acres)	NO	Maidenhead 51°29′42″N 0°44′49″W / 51.495°N 0.747°W / 51.495; -0.747 (Great Thrift Wood) SU871782		Map Citation	This is an ancient woodland where no trees have been planted, so it has native species in a natural setting. It has a rich variety of shrubs and ground plants, with many species found in old woods like enchanter's nightshade and early-purple orchid.
Greenham and Crookham Commons		Y		280.5 hectares (693 acres)	YES	Greenham 51°22′34″N 1°16′55″W / 51.376°N 1.282°W / 51.376; -1.282 (Greenham and Crookham Commons) SU501644	BBOWT	Map Citation	In the 1980s, Greenham Common was a military base. After it closed, it became a nature reserve in 2000. These two commons have the largest area of heathland and acid grassland in the county. They are home to many different invertebrates, like the white admiral and silver-washed fritillary butterflies.
Hamstead Marshall Pit			Y	0.2 hectares (0.49 acres)	NO	Hamstead Marshall 51°23′35″N 1°24′22″W / 51.393°N 1.406°W / 51.393; -1.406 (Hamstead Marshall Pit) SU414662	GCR	Map Citation	This old gravel pit shows gravels from the River Kennet that were laid down about 450,000 years ago during an ice age. Stone tools found here might be even older, showing that early humans were active in this area a very long time ago.
Heath Lake		Y		6.0 hectares (15 acres)	YES	Crowthorne 51°22′48″N 0°48′43″W / 51.380°N 0.812°W / 51.380; -0.812 (Heath Lake) SU828652	LNR	Map Citation	Most of this lake is shallow, less than 1 meter deep. It's the only acid lake in the county that still has its special plants, like alternate water-milfoil. The banks are peaty and marshy in some spots. There are also small areas of woodland, dry heath, and acid grassland.
Hog's Hole		Y		23.7 hectares (59 acres)	NO	Inkpen 51°20′02″N 1°27′32″W / 51.334°N 1.459°W / 51.334; -1.459 (Hog's Hole) SU378597		Map Citation	This dry chalk valley is traditionally managed by sheep grazing. Its untouched chalk grassland has many different plants and animals. You can find herbs like mouse-ear hawkweed, lady's bedstraw, and eyebright.
Holies Down		Y		5.6 hectares (14 acres)	YES	Streatley 51°30′50″N 1°08′49″W / 51.514°N 1.147°W / 51.514; -1.147 (Holies Down) SU594798	NT	Map Citation	This sloping site is an area of untouched chalk grassland in the Berkshire Downs. It's kept healthy by grazing animals. The grass here is mainly made up of glaucous sedge, red fescue, and quaking grass.
Inkpen and Walbury Hills		Y		86.8 hectares (214 acres)	PP	Inkpen 51°21′25″N 1°28′48″W / 51.357°N 1.480°W / 51.357; -1.480 (Inkpen and Walbury Hills) SU363621	SM	Map Citation	These hills have the largest area of untouched chalk grassland in the county, and much of it is managed by sheep grazing. Slopes facing north have many mosses and herbs like hoary plantain. There are also woods and hedges that provide homes for many breeding birds.
Inkpen Common		Y		12.8 hectares (32 acres)	YES	Inkpen 51°22′30″N 1°27′14″W / 51.375°N 1.454°W / 51.375; -1.454 (Inkpen Common) SU381641	BBOWT	Map Citation	This is a small part of the old Inkpen Great Common. It's mostly damp heathland, with some marshy areas, woods, and bracken. You can find plants like purple moor grass and common gorse here. It's also the only place in Berkshire with a colony of the rare pale heath violet.
Inkpen Crocus Field		Y		3.1 hectares (7.7 acres)	YES	Inkpen 51°22′23″N 1°28′16″W / 51.373°N 1.471°W / 51.373; -1.471 (Inkpen Crocus Fields) SU369639	BBOWT	Map Citation	This field is one of the "Rothschild Reserves," special sites chosen for protection over a hundred years ago. The spring crocus here is a rare plant that isn't native to Britain but has been recorded here since 1800. More than 400,000 crocuses bloom in the spring, making it a beautiful sight!
Irish Hill Copse		Y		15.9 hectares (39 acres)	NO	Kintbury 51°24′00″N 1°25′08″W / 51.400°N 1.419°W / 51.400; -1.419 (Irish Hill Copse) SU404670		Map Citation	This ancient woodland has many different plants growing on the ground. The lower parts, which are chalky, have lots of dog's mercury. The higher, more acidic ground has many plants that flower in spring, like wood sorrel, bluebell, and wood anemone.
Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain		Y		23.4 hectares (58 acres)	PP	Hungerford 51°25′12″N 1°28′08″W / 51.420°N 1.469°W / 51.420; -1.469 (Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain) SU370691	BBOWT, NCR, SAC	Map Citation	This site is made up of six separate areas in the floodplains of the Lambourn and Kennet rivers. They all have marshy areas with many Desmoulin's whorl snails, which are rare and declining in the country. One area, Eddington Marsh, also has untouched grassland with several rare insects.
Kennet Valley Alderwoods		Y		57.3 hectares (142 acres)	NO	Newbury 51°24′14″N 1°24′58″W / 51.404°N 1.416°W / 51.404; -1.416 (Kennet Valley Alderwoods) SU407674	SAC	Map Citation	This site has two damp woods in the River Kennet floodplain. The main tree here is alder, and ash is also common. The mosses and liverworts are very diverse, including some uncommon types.
King's Copse		Y		13.7 hectares (34 acres)	FP	Bradfield 51°25′52″N 1°10′23″W / 51.431°N 1.173°W / 51.431; -1.173 (King's Copse) SU576705		Map Citation	A small stream flows through this old woodland, which is mostly on London Clay. It has many different ground plants, including wood anemone, woodsage, and bluebell.
Lardon Chase		Y		14.9 hectares (37 acres)	YES	Streatley 51°31′23″N 1°09′18″W / 51.523°N 1.155°W / 51.523; -1.155 (Lardon Chase) SU587809	NT	Map Citation	This sloping site in the Berkshire Downs is untouched chalk grassland. Rabbits help keep the grass short in steep areas. This site is especially important for its butterflies, including chalkhill blue, marbled white, and the rare adonis blue, which is found here for the last time in the county.
Lodge Wood and Sandford Mill		Y		2.3 hectares (5.7 acres)	NO	Wokingham 51°27′11″N 0°52′34″W / 51.453°N 0.876°W / 51.453; -0.876 (Lodge Wood and Sandford Mill) SU782733		Map Citation	These two small woods are next to the River Loddon and can flood. They are home to more than 10% of Britain's rare Loddon lily population, which is listed in the British Red Data Book for plants. Lodge Wood is very old, shown on maps from 1761.
Longmoor Bog		Y		14.0 hectares (35 acres)	YES	Finchampstead 51°22′48″N 0°52′41″W / 51.38°N 0.878°W / 51.38; -0.878 (Longmoor Bog) SU781653	LNR	Map Citation	This site is mostly wet woodland with areas of wet heathland. A small stream runs through the wet woodland, which has deep peat layers covered in mosses. The wet heath is important for insects like the bog bush cricket, silver-studded blue butterfly, and emperor dragonfly.
Old Copse, Beenham		Y		8.0 hectares (20 acres)	NO	Beenham 51°24′43″N 1°09′22″W / 51.412°N 1.156°W / 51.412; -1.156 (Old Copse, Beenham) SU588684		Map Citation	This woodland has a rich variety of plants. The main trees are oak and ash, with smaller hazel and alder trees. The ground plants include species that show it's an ancient woodland, like wild daffodil and orpine.
Park Farm Down		Y		3.3 hectares (8.2 acres)	NO	Lambourn 51°32′28″N 1°34′19″W / 51.541°N 1.572°W / 51.541; -1.572 (Park Farm Down) SU298825		Map Citation	This site has scattered sarsen stones, which are large boulders. These stones provide a home for rare lichens. It's the easternmost known place in Britain for some of these special lichens.
Pincent's Kiln			Y	0.2 hectares (0.49 acres)	NO	Reading 51°26′28″N 1°03′58″W / 51.441°N 1.066°W / 51.441; -1.066 (Pincent's Kiln) SU650719	GCR	Map Citation	This old quarry is the only place left where you can see the Reading Beds, rock layers from 60 million years ago. It shows that this area was once a shallow sea, then a river environment. Scientists found well-preserved fossils of plants here, including new types of fruits and seeds.
Redhill Wood		Y		29.0 hectares (72 acres)	NO	Newbury 51°22′44″N 1°23′46″W / 51.379°N 1.396°W / 51.379; -1.396 (Redhill Wood) SU422645		Map Citation	This ancient wood has many different types of trees, a wide variety of ground plants, and lots of insects. Over 120 species of woodland plants have been recorded, like Solomon's seal. There are also rare mosses and liverworts, including some found in only one or two places in the county.
River Kennet		Y		111.1 hectares (275 acres)	PP	Hungerford 51°24′40″N 1°26′28″W / 51.411°N 1.441°W / 51.411; -1.441 (River Kennet) SU390681		Map Citation	This site includes the river itself, wet woodland, marshy grassland, and reed beds. It has the most diverse plant life of any lowland river in Britain, including the rare river water-dropwort. There are also many different insects, like mayflies and rare types of craneflies.
River Lambourn		Y		28.9 hectares (71 acres)	PP	Lambourn 51°26′49″N 1°24′04″W / 51.447°N 1.401°W / 51.447; -1.401 (River Lambourn) SU417722	SPA	Map Citation	The upper part of this chalk river only flows in winter. The lower part is special because it has a type of red algae called Lemanea fluviatilis, which is very sensitive to pollution. You can also find five nationally rare insect species here, like a flatworm called Crenobia alpina, which is thought to be a leftover from the ice age.
Sandhurst to Owlsmoor Bogs and Heaths		Y		85.8 hectares (212 acres)	PP	Sandhurst 51°21′25″N 0°47′20″W / 51.357°N 0.789°W / 51.357; -0.789 (Sandhurst to Owlsmoor Bogs and Heaths) SU843628	BBOWT, SPA	Map Citation	This site has heathland and woodland, plus a special spring-fed valley mire. Natural England calls this mire "outstandingly important" because of its amazing plants. You can find round and long-leaved sundews, white beak sedge, and bog asphodel here.
Seven Barrows		Y		4.0 hectares (9.9 acres)	YES	Lambourn 51°32′35″N 1°31′37″W / 51.543°N 1.527°W / 51.543; -1.527 (Seven Barrows) SU328828	BBOWT, SM	Map Citation	This site is part of a Bronze Age burial ground with ancient mounds called barrows. The area is untouched chalk grassland with many different plants; over 100 types of herbs have been found. It's also very rich in insects, especially butterflies, including the rare marsh fritillary.
Snelsmore Common		Y		104.0 hectares (257 acres)	YES	Newbury 51°26′10″N 1°20′24″W / 51.436°N 1.340°W / 51.436; -1.340 (Snelsmore Common Country Park) SU460710	BBOWT	Map Citation	This is a country park with many different habitats, including dry and wet heathland, bog, and ancient woodlands. The bog has a 5,000-year-old layer of peat that scientists have studied to learn about ancient land use. An area of wet alder woodland has many lichens, including some rare types that grow on trees.
Stanford End Mill and River Loddon		Y		11.8 hectares (29 acres)	NO	Swallowfield 51°21′54″N 0°59′13″W / 51.365°N 0.987°W / 51.365; -0.987 (Stanford End Mill and River Loddon) SU706634		Map Citation	The meadows at Stanford End Mill are hay meadows that get wet seasonally and are managed traditionally. The site also includes a 4 km stretch of the River Loddon. It has nationally important populations of two plants: the fritillary Fritillaria meleagris and the aquatic Loddon pondweed. You can also find water voles and several types of nesting birds here.
Streatley Warren		Y		31.3 hectares (77 acres)	PL	Streatley 51°31′23″N 1°12′11″W / 51.523°N 1.203°W / 51.523; -1.203 (Streatley Warren) SU554807		Map Citation	Most of this site is chalk grassland full of flowers, managed by traditional grazing. It's important for insects, with butterflies like marbled white, small heath, and common blue. Breeding birds include skylark and lapwing.
Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows		Y		75.7 hectares (187 acres)	PP	Reading 51°27′50″N 1°04′55″W / 51.464°N 1.082°W / 51.464; -1.082 (Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows) SU639743	BBOWT	Map Citation	This site has wet woodland in a valley and both wet and dry grasslands. It's home to many different invertebrates, with over 300 species of moths recorded in the woods, like the scarlet tiger. There are also 45 species of snails and slugs.
Swinley Park and Brick Pits		Y		88.7 hectares (219 acres)	YES	Bracknell 51°23′53″N 0°42′47″W / 51.398°N 0.713°W / 51.398; -0.713 (Swinley Park and Brick Pits) SU896673		Map Citation	The park is mostly a conifer forest with old oaks, sweet chestnuts, and beech trees. Decaying trees provide a home for many rare insects. Swinley Brick Pits have small pools where dragonflies and waterfowl live. It's also a breeding ground for all three types of newts and a colony of marsh clubmoss.
Thatcham Reed Beds		Y		67.4 hectares (167 acres)	YES	Thatcham 51°23′38″N 1°16′23″W / 51.394°N 1.273°W / 51.394; -1.273 (Thatcham Reed Beds) SU507664	BBOWT, LNR, SAC	Map Citation	This site is very important for its reed beds, fen, and alder woods, which are rich in different species. It's also nationally important for Desmoulin's whorl snails. Many birds breed here, including the rare Cetti's warbler. Wetland plants like common valerian and skullcap grow here.
Wasing Wood Ponds		Y		13.5 hectares (33 acres)	FP	Aldermaston 51°21′58″N 1°10′05″W / 51.366°N 1.168°W / 51.366; -1.168 (Wasing Wood Ponds) SU580633		Map Citation	This area has ponds, marshes, and wet ditches. It's very important for dragonflies, with about 21 species breeding here or nearby. That's more than half of all British dragonfly species! Some of them are very uncommon, like the downy emerald and brilliant emerald.
Wellington College Bog		Y		6.2 hectares (15 acres)	YES	Sandhurst 51°21′25″N 0°48′25″W / 51.357°N 0.807°W / 51.357; -0.807 (Wellington College Bog) SU832627		Map Citation	This bog is rich in mosses, liverworts, and flowering plants, including some that are rare in southern Britain. It also has wet and dry heathland, grazing marsh, and a small stream. The wet areas are covered in sphagnum mosses, and the insect-eating round-leaved sundew is very common. You can find insects like the bog bush cricket and keeled skimmer dragonfly here.
West Woodhay Down		Y		1.5 hectares (3.7 acres)	PP	Inkpen 51°21′11″N 1°26′49″W / 51.353°N 1.447°W / 51.353; -1.447 (West Woodhay Down) SU387617		Map Citation	This steeply sloping site in the Berkshire Downs is untouched chalk grassland. It has many different plants, including yellow-wort, purging flax, wild mignonette, and fragrant orchid.
Westfield Farm Chalk Bank		Y		14.1 hectares (35 acres)	YES	Lambourn 51°28′59″N 1°29′31″W / 51.483°N 1.492°W / 51.483; -1.492 (Westfield Farm Chalk Bank) SU353761		Map Citation	This chalk grassland bank is on the slope of the Berkshire Downs. Cattle grazing helps keep it healthy. It has a wide variety of native plants, including five types of orchids: common spotted, twayblade, pyramidal, frog, and greater butterfly.
West's Meadow, Aldermaston		Y		1.2 hectares (3.0 acres)	NO	Aldermaston 51°21′32″N 1°08′38″W / 51.359°N 1.144°W / 51.359; -1.144 (West's Meadow, Aldermaston) SU597626		Map Citation	This meadow is grassland with a small stream running through it, and much of it is damp. It has been managed by grazing for over thirty years. There are more than eighty types of grassland plants, many of which are found mainly in old meadows that haven't been disturbed. The stream has water plants like water starwort.
White Shute		Y		1.9 hectares (4.7 acres)	YES	Lambourn 51°29′31″N 1°31′34″W / 51.492°N 1.526°W / 51.492; -1.526 (White Shute) SU330771	BBOWT	Map Citation	This steeply sloping site has untouched grassland and bushes. It has many different herbs, like salad burnet, lady's bedstraw, and harebell. There are also many types of butterflies, including the uncommon Duke of Burgundy.
Windsor Forest and Great Park		Y		1,778.9 hectares (4,396 acres)	YES	Windsor 51°26′38″N 0°37′55″W / 51.444°N 0.632°W / 51.444; -0.632 (Windsor Forest and Great Park) SU 952 725	NCR, RHPG, SAC	Map Citation	This large site has woodlands with many ancient trees and big parkland areas. It's second only to the New Forest for the variety of its invertebrates (animals without backbones), including many rare beetles and flies. It has an internationally important population of the violet click beetle. The fungi here are also very diverse, with some extremely rare types.
Winterbourne Chalk Pit			Y	0.1 hectares (0.25 acres)	NO	Winterbourne 51°26′49″N 1°21′29″W / 51.447°N 1.358°W / 51.447; -1.358 (Winterbourne Chalk Pit) SU447722	GCR	Map Citation	This old chalk pit shows layers of chalk rich in phosphates, deposited 80 million years ago under a warm sea. These layers provide evidence of big earth movements in the area. They are also full of large fossils, especially belemnites (ancient squid-like creatures).
Woolhampton Reed Bed		Y		6.0 hectares (15 acres)	NO	Woolhampton 51°23′46″N 1°10′19″W / 51.396°N 1.172°W / 51.396; -1.172 (Woolhampton Reed Bed) SU578666		Map Citation	This site is mostly dense reed beds, but it also has wet woodland and tall fen. Over 300 species of moths have been recorded here, including the obscure wainscot and burnished brass. The site is also important for flies, with over 160 different species.
Wraysbury and Hythe End Gravel Pits		Y		117.2 hectares (290 acres)	FP	Windsor 51°27′04″N 0°32′42″W / 51.451°N 0.545°W / 51.451; -0.545 (Wraysbury and Hythe End Gravel Pits) TQ012735	Ramsar, SPA	Map Citation	This site has four flooded gravel pits in the floodplains of the River Thames and the Colne Brook. It also has islands, woodland, and grassland. It's nationally important for three types of wintering wildfowl: tufted duck, gadwall, and goosander. You can also find two rare insect species here.
Wraysbury No 1 Gravel Pit		Y		58.0 hectares (143 acres)	NO	Windsor 51°27′47″N 0°33′22″W / 51.463°N 0.556°W / 51.463; -0.556 (Wraysbury No 1 Gravel Pit) TQ003747	Ramsar, SPA	Map Citation	This old gravel pit was dug in the 1950s and is now a lake. It's nationally important for wintering gadwall birds. It's also important for other wintering birds like great crested grebe and pochard. The woods around the lake are home to many different woodland birds.
Wykery Copse		Y		3.2 hectares (7.9 acres)	YES	Bracknell 51°24′36″N 0°46′44″W / 51.41°N 0.779°W / 51.41; -0.779 (Wykery Copse) SU850686		Map Citation	This copse has many different broadleaf woodland habitats with several rare plants. Trees here include alder, birch, and hazel. There's also a group of rare wild service trees and a large area covered in mosses.

More to Explore

• Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust
• List of local nature reserves in Berkshire

Sources