Windsor Forest and Great Park facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Berkshire Surrey |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 1,778.9 hectares (4,396 acres) |
| Notification | 2000 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Windsor Forest and Great Park is a very special natural area. It covers about 1,779 hectares (that's over 4,400 acres!) across Berkshire and Surrey. You can find it just south of Windsor.
This amazing place is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because of its unique plants, animals, or geology. It's also a Special Area of Conservation, which highlights its importance for wildlife across Europe.
Windsor Forest itself is a top-rated Nature Conservation Review site. This shows how important it is for nature in the UK. The beautiful gardens here are also listed as Grade I historic parks. This means they are very important historical places.
Part of this area is Windsor Great Park, which is a Royal Park. It's a huge space, about 2,020 hectares, and includes a special area where deer live.
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Discover Windsor Forest and Great Park
This large natural site is full of ancient trees. Many of these trees have been growing for hundreds of years. You'll also find big open areas of parkland. These different habitats make it a perfect home for many kinds of wildlife.
A Home for Amazing Wildlife
Windsor Forest and Great Park is incredibly important for its wildlife. It has a huge variety of invertebrates. Invertebrates are animals without backbones, like insects and spiders. This site is second only to the New Forest in the UK for how many different invertebrates it has.
Tiny Creatures, Big Impact
Among the many invertebrates, you'll find lots of special beetles and flies. Some of these are listed in the Red Data Book. This book lists species that are rare or endangered. It means they need extra protection to survive.
One very important insect here is the violet click beetle. This beetle has a population that is important worldwide. It's a key species that helps show how healthy the ecosystem is.
Ancient Trees and Rare Fungi
The ancient trees in the park are not just beautiful. They also provide homes for many different fungi species. Fungi are like plants but they get their food from other living things or dead matter.
The variety of fungi here is very high. Some of the fungi found in Windsor Forest and Great Park are extremely rare. This makes the area a vital place for scientists to study these unique organisms.
