Upwood Meadows facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Cambridgeshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 6.0 hectares |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Upwood Meadows is a special natural area in Cambridgeshire, England. It's about 6 hectares (which is like 15 football fields!) of important land. This area is protected because it's home to many rare plants and animals.
It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its unique biology. It's also a National Nature Reserve, which means it's one of the best places in the country for wildlife. The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire helps look after this amazing place.
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What Makes Upwood Meadows Special?
Upwood Meadows has three main fields. The soil here is a special type of clay that holds a lot of water. This creates a unique environment that's perfect for certain plants. This kind of wet grassland is very rare to find now.
A Home for Rare Plants
A famous nature expert, Derek Ratcliffe, once said that Upwood Meadows has an "outstandingly rich and diverse flora." This means it has a huge variety of beautiful and important plants.
- Rare Grasslands: The fields are mostly untouched by modern farming. This means they still have the old "ridge and furrow" patterns from medieval times. These are bumps and dips in the ground from old farming methods.
- Special Flowers: You can find some really cool flowering plants here. These include the pepper saxifrage and the green-winged orchid. These flowers are not common and need special conditions to grow.
Other Habitats
Besides the fields, Upwood Meadows also has other important areas for wildlife.
- Old Hedges: There are old, mature hedgerows that provide shelter and food for birds and insects.
- Ponds: Small ponds are home to frogs, newts, and many water insects.
- Scrubland: Areas of scrub (small bushes and trees) offer hiding places for animals.
Visiting Upwood Meadows
If you want to explore this natural wonder, you can! There's a public footpath that leads to Upwood Meadows. You can find it from Bentley Close in the village of Upwood. It's a great place to see nature up close and learn about rare plants.
