Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 75.7 hectares (187 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows is a special natural area in Berkshire, west of Reading. It covers about 75.7 hectares, which is roughly the size of 100 football fields! This site is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because it's super important for its plants and animals.
Contents
What Makes This Place Special?
This area used to be called Pang Valley SSSI. It's mostly found between the River Pang and Sulham Road. It includes several small woods like Broom Copse, Herridge's Copse, Hogmoor Copse, Park Wood, Moor Copse, and Barton's Copse. A "copse" is just a small group of trees.
A Home for Wildlife
A big part of the southern area is called the Moor Copse Nature Reserve. This reserve is looked after by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT). They work to protect wildlife and their homes. The entire site is also part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This means it's a beautiful landscape that is protected for everyone to enjoy.
Different Soils, Different Plants
The land here is quite unique! It's in a wide valley with many different kinds of soil. You can find rich river mud, stony ground, and even boggy areas. These different soils were formed a very long time ago, after the Ice Age, when the River Kennet used to flood the area.
Because of these varied soils, you'll find a mix of damp woods and meadows that sometimes get flooded. People have helped keep this natural mix healthy for a long time. They've done this by using methods like "coppicing," which is cutting trees in a special way to help them grow back stronger. They also carefully manage the grasslands.
Amazing Insects
The woodlands at Sulham and Tidmarsh are home to many different kinds of insects. There are over 300 types of moths living here! This shows how important this site is for supporting a wide variety of tiny creatures.
