Turvey's Piece facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Example - Green Hounds-tongue (Cynoglossum germanicum)
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| Area of Search | Gloucestershire |
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| Coordinates | 51°58′11″N 2°10′21″W / 51.969696°N 2.172446°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 1.02 hectare |
| Notification | 1993 |
Turvey's Piece is a special natural area in Gloucestershire, England. It's about the size of one and a half football fields (1.02-hectare (2.5-acre))! This place is officially called a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a protected area because it's home to unique plants and wildlife. Turvey's Piece was given this special protection in 1993 to help keep its rare plants safe. It's located near a village called Deerhurst.
Contents
Where is Turvey's Piece?
Turvey's Piece sits on the low-lying clay lands near the River Severn. It's a woodland area that has been around for a very long time.
What Trees Grow Here?
The main trees you'll find in this woodland are Oak and Ash. Below these taller trees, there's a layer of smaller bushes and trees. This lower layer, called the understorey, includes:
What Plants Grow on the Ground?
On the ground, you'll mostly see common plants like Common Nettle and Cow Parsley. If you look closely at the woodland floor, you might notice old bumps and dips. These are signs of "ridge and furrow" farming, which means this area used to be a farm meadow long ago before it became a woodland.
What Special Plants Live Here?
Turvey's Piece is very important because it's home to some plants that are rare in the United Kingdom. The most important one is the Green Hounds-tongue.
About the Green Hounds-tongue
The Green Hounds-tongue is a nationally rare plant. It's so special that it's protected by a law called the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. This plant is a biennial, which means it takes two years to complete its life cycle. It grows in woods and along hedgerows, often in places where the ground has been disturbed or is bare.
Turvey's Piece is the only place in Gloucestershire where the Green Hounds-tongue is known to grow. It's also the most western spot in Britain where this plant can be found. There are only twelve known locations for this plant in the entire country!
Protecting This Special Place
Experts from an organization called Natural England checked on Turvey's Piece in August 2010. Their report confirmed that the Green Hounds-tongue plant is still there, which is great news! However, they also noted that the woodland is becoming thicker and denser. This means that conservation efforts might be needed to make sure the Green Hounds-tongue, which likes disturbed or bare areas, continues to thrive.
