Lye Valley facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Oxfordshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 2.3 hectares (5.7 acres) |
| Notification | 1987 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
The Lye Valley is a special natural area in Headington, a part of Oxford in Oxfordshire. It covers about 2.3-hectare (5.7-acre) and is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its important plants and animals. The valley is also part of the larger 4.5-hectare (11-acre) Lye Valley Local Nature Reserve. The Oxford City Council looks after this amazing place.
Contents
Discovering Lye Valley's Natural Wonders
Lye Valley is home to many different natural environments, called habitats. These include wet areas fed by springs, full of rushes and sedges. You can also find various ponds and wet woodlands here. There are even small patches of grassy areas and old parkland.
A Rare Habitat: The Calcareous Valley Fen
One of the most special parts of Lye Valley is its calcareous valley fen. A "calcareous" fen means the soil has lots of calcium carbonate, which is like chalk. This type of fen is very rare in the country. The plants and animals living in this fen have been here for a very long time. Scientists believe they first arrived after the last ice age, about eight to ten thousand years ago.
Amazing Plant Life
People have been studying the plants in Lye Valley since the 1600s. It became very popular for botanists (plant scientists) in the Victorian era. More than 300 different types of vascular plants have been found here. Vascular plants are plants that have special tissues to carry water and nutrients, like trees and flowers.
Even though some plants haven't been seen recently, many rare ones still grow here. These include the beautiful grass-of-Parnassus and the marsh helleborine orchid. These orchids are so rare that they are on the Red List of Threatened Species. This list is put together by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It helps us know which plants and animals need our help to survive.
Birds of the Valley
Lye Valley is also a great place for birdwatching. Many different bird species live or visit here. Some of the birds you might spot include the Eurasian reed warbler, the Common reed bunting, the water rail, and the Common snipe. These birds often like the wet, reedy areas that Lye Valley offers.
