Wildmoorway Meadows facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Example - Green-winged Orchid (Orchis Morio)
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| Area of Search | Gloucestershire |
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| Coordinates | 51°40′30″N 1°54′19″W / 51.674881°N 1.905229°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 12.6 hectare |
| Notification | 1989 |
Wildmoorway Meadows is a special place in Gloucestershire, near Fairford. It's a Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI, which means it's protected because of its important plants and animals. This area covers about 12.6 hectares, which is like 30 football fields! It was officially recognized as an SSSI in 1989. It's also known as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS) in the local plans for the Cotswold District.
Contents
What is Wildmoorway Meadows Like?
Wildmoorway Meadows is located between the River Churn and an old, unused waterway called the Thames and Severn Canal. The land here is made of rich soil and gravel from the River Thames floodplain.
Ancient Meadows and Their History
This area is special because it has many old meadows that haven't been changed by modern farming. You can still see old "ridge and furrow" patterns in the ground. These are bumps and dips left from how farmers used to plow the land a long time ago. Wildmoorway Meadows is one of the biggest and best examples of this type of land in south-east Gloucestershire. For many years, people have managed these meadows by cutting hay and letting animals graze there. This traditional care helps the special plants grow.
Plants of Wildmoorway Meadows
The meadows are home to many different kinds of plants, especially grasses and wildflowers.
Grasses and Herbs
You can find more than 20 types of grasses and sedges here. Some common grasses include Crested Dog's-tail, Common Knapweed, Quaking Grass, and Sweet Vernal-grass. Many colorful wildflowers also grow in these old meadows. Look for Cowslip, Betony, Pepper Saxifrage, and Ox-eye Daisy.
Beautiful Orchids
Wildmoorway Meadows is famous for its orchids. You might spot the Green-winged Orchid with its unique striped petals. In the wetter parts of the meadows, you can also find the Southern Marsh Orchid.
Plants in Wet Areas and Hedges
In the damp spots, you'll see plants like Meadowsweet, Ragged-robin, and Reed Canary-grass. Along the edges of the meadows, there are some bushes and old trees. Keep an eye out for Black poplar trees, which are quite special and grow in the hedgerows.
Images for kids
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Green-winged Orchid, a flower found at Wildmoorway Meadows
