Swinley Park and Brick Pits facts for kids
Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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Area of Search | Berkshire |
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Interest | Biological |
Area | 88.7 hectares (219 acres) |
Notification | 1983 |
Location map | Magic Map |
Swinley Park and Brick Pits is a really special place in Berkshire, England. It covers about 88.7 hectares, which is like 219 football fields! This area is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because it's home to many rare and important plants and animals. It's also part of the Crown Estate, which is land owned by the King or Queen.
Discovering Swinley Park and Brick Pits
Swinley Park is mostly a forest filled with tall conifer trees, like pines. But you'll also find older trees like oaks, sweet chestnuts, and beech trees scattered around. These old trees, even when they are decaying, are super important! They provide homes and food for many rare kinds of insects that you might not see anywhere else.
Amazing Animals and Plants
The Swinley Brick Pits part of the area has several small pools of water. These pools are perfect places for different kinds of wildlife. You can often spot colorful dragonflies buzzing around and various waterfowl swimming.
The pools are also vital breeding spots for all three types of newts found in the UK. Newts are small amphibians, a bit like lizards, that live in water and on land. Look closely, and you might even find a rare plant called marsh clubmoss growing here. It's a special type of plant that loves wet, boggy areas.
Visiting Swinley Park
If you want to explore this amazing natural area, you can find access to the park from a path called New Forest Ride. It's a great place to see some of Britain's unique wildlife and enjoy nature.