Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
View of Sharpenhoe
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| Area of Search | Bedfordshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 86.1 hectares |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills is a special natural area in Bedfordshire, England. It covers about 86 hectares, which is like 200 football fields! This area is so important that it's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it has rare plants, animals, or geological features that need to be protected.
Most of this land is looked after by the National Trust. They are a charity that protects important places in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The site includes several hills like Sundon Hills, Moleskin and Markham Hills, Sharpenhoe Clappers, and Smithcombe Hills. It's also part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This is a special title given to beautiful landscapes that are protected for everyone to enjoy. Sharpenhoe Clappers is even more special because it's a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it has important old features from history, like prehistoric times and the Middle Ages.
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What Makes This Place Special?
This area is mostly made up of "unimproved chalk grassland." This type of grassland hasn't been changed by farming or building, so it's very natural. It's home to many plants that are now quite rare in other places.
Amazing Plants and Flowers
- One common grass here is called Festuca ovina, also known as sheep's fescue. It grows over large parts of the hills.
- You can find special types of Orchids, like the "Musk Orchid" (Herminium monorchis) and the "Man Orchid" (Aceras anthropophorum). These flowers have unique shapes and are fun to spot!
- In the bushy areas, there's a rare kind of rose called Rosa stylosa.
- There are also areas with beech trees, and on the ground beneath them, you might see beautiful Primroses.
Sharpenhoe Clappers: A Look into History
The word "Clappers" comes from an old French word, "clapier," which means a rabbit warren. Rabbit warrens are places where rabbits live and breed in burrows. In the past, rabbits were very important for people living here. They provided meat to eat, fur for clothes, and leather for other uses.
Sharpenhoe Clappers is not just a natural area; it's also an Iron Age hill fort. This means that long, long ago, people built a fort here on top of the hill for protection. Later, in the Middle Ages, people used the area for rabbit warrens and farming. You can still see the marks of these old farms on the land today.
Visiting Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills
You can visit the National Trust parts of this special area. There's a way to get there from Sharpenhoe Road. It's a great place to explore nature and learn about history!
