Long Herdon Meadow facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Buckinghamshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 4.5 hectares |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Long Herdon Meadow is a special place in Buckinghamshire, England. It's a large meadow, about 4.5 hectares (that's like 6 football fields!). It's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because of its amazing nature. The meadow is part of the Upper Ray Meadows nature reserve. The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust helps look after it.
Contents
What Makes Long Herdon Meadow Special?
Long Herdon Meadow is an alluvial meadow. This means it's made of soil left behind by a river. It sits right next to the River Ray in the Vale of Aylesbury. The soil here is mostly clay, and it often gets flooded. This flooding helps create a very unique home for plants and animals.
How the Meadow is Cared For
The meadow is managed in a special way. Farmers cut hay from the meadow. Then, cattle are allowed to graze there. No artificial fertilisers are used. This old-fashioned way of farming helps many different plants grow. It creates a diverse grassland that is now rare in England.
Amazing Plants of the Meadow
Because of the special care, many interesting plants grow here. You can find bright yellow meadow buttercups. There are also purple lesser knapweed flowers. Another cool plant is devil's bit scabious. These plants make the meadow a colourful place.
Wildlife in the Wet Areas
The ditches and the riverbank stay wet all the time. This creates a perfect home for many creatures. You might see wading birds like snipe and curlew. These birds love to search for food in the wet soil. Many small creatures, called invertebrates, also live here. This includes colourful damselflies.
Visiting Long Herdon Meadow
You can visit Long Herdon Meadow. There is a path called the Bernwood Jubilee Way. This path runs between Marsh Gibbon and the A41 road. The meadow is right next to the River Ray along this path. It's a great place to see nature up close!
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