Range Farm Fields facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Example – meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis)
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| Area of Search | Gloucestershire |
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| Coordinates | 51°48′57″N 2°13′06″W / 51.815876°N 2.218278°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 12.8 hectare |
| Notification | 1996 |
Range Farm Fields is a special nature area in Gloucestershire, England. It's called a 'Site of Special Scientific Interest' (SSSI) because it has important plants and habitats. This area is about 12.8 hectares, which is like 30 football fields! It was officially recognized as an SSSI in 1996.
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Where is Range Farm Fields Located?
Range Farm Fields is found in the beautiful Cotswolds, an area known for its stunning natural beauty. It's also part of the Cotswold Hills Environmentally Sensitive Area.
The ground here is very old, formed during the Jurassic time period. This means you can find different types of rock and soil, like Lias Clay, silt, and limestone. There are also signs of old landslides.
The fields themselves face towards the north-west and are on a gentle slope. The area is made up of four separate grassy fields, each with its own hedgerows. You can also find smaller patches of fern-like plants (bracken), woodland, wet areas (flushes), and bushy scrubland.
Amazing Grasslands and Plants
Range Farm Fields is famous for its large areas of flower-rich grassland. This type of grassland is called "unimproved" because it hasn't been changed much by farming or chemicals. Sadly, there isn't much of this special habitat left in the country.
What makes this site extra special is its size and the different kinds of grassland it has. You can find three main types of grassland here:
- Acidic grassland: Where the soil is a bit sour.
- Neutral grassland: Where the soil is balanced.
- Calcareous grassland: Where the soil has lots of lime.
Common Grassland Plants
In these unimproved grasslands, you'll see many plants. Some common ones include crested dog's-tail and common knapweed. You might also spot heath-grass, meadow vetchling, and lady's bedstraw.
Experts have studied many sites in the Cotswolds. They found that Range Farm Fields has the most different types of plants and all three kinds of grassland.
Beautiful Wildflowers
Many colorful wildflowers grow here. These include the bright oxeye daisy, the fluffy devil's-bit scabious, the cheerful yellow rattle, and the yellow dyer's greenweed.
One particular field has a lot of great burnet. This plant is usually found in meadows that flood, making its presence here quite interesting. You can also find corky-fruited water-dropwort.
Plants Near Springs
The site has natural springs, which are places where water comes out of the ground. These wet areas are perfect for certain plants to grow. Look out for sharp-flowered rush, the sunny marsh marigold, the pink ragged robin, the lovely common spotted orchid, and the yellow bird's-foot trefoil.
Other Important Habitats
Range Farm Fields is also important for wildlife because of its other features. It has mixed hedgerows, which are like living fences, and areas of scrub and woodland.
The hedgerows are mostly made up of hawthorn, bramble, and field rose. The woodland areas mainly have ash and oak trees, with smaller hazel bushes growing underneath them.
