Upper Greensand Hangers: Wyck to Wheatley facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 13.2 hectares (33 acres) |
| Notification | 1999 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Upper Greensand Hangers: Wyck to Wheatley is a special natural area in Hampshire, England. It's a place where nature is protected because it has unique plants and animals. This site covers about 13.2 hectares, which is like 32 football fields! It's located east of a town called Alton.
What is Upper Greensand Hangers?
This area is part of something even bigger called the East Hampshire Hangers Special Area of Conservation. Think of it as a very important nature reserve. It's called "Hangers" because it has steep, wooded slopes that look like they are "hanging" on the side of hills.
Why is this Place Special?
This site is mostly made up of woods growing on steep, rocky hillsides. These hills are made of a type of rock called the Upper Greensand. This rock gives the soil special qualities that certain plants love.
Amazing Plants and Tiny Creatures
The bare rocks here are home to many small, green plants called bryophytes. These are like tiny mosses and liverworts. They love places with lime in the soil. Some of the bryophytes you might find include Tortula marginata, Chiloscyphus pallescens, and Fissidens gracilifolius.
There's also a special snail here called Macrogastra rolphii. This snail is quite rare in the country, which makes its home at Upper Greensand Hangers even more important!
