Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Location | Berkshire |
---|---|
Grid reference | SU 407 674 [1] |
Coordinates | 51°24′14″N 1°24′58″W / 51.404°N 1.416°W |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 57.3 hectares (142 acres) [1] |
Notification | 1997 [1] |
Location map | Magic Map |
Kennet Valley Alderwoods is a 57.3-hectare (142-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Newbury in Berkshire. [1] [2] It is a Special Area of Conservation [3]
Located at grid reference SU400675 and at grid reference SU444669, these woodlands are the largest remaining fragments of damp, ash-alder woodland in the Kennet floodplain. The SSSI includes two woods, the Wilderness and part of Ryott's Plantation, which are important because they support a very great diversity of plants associated with this woodland type, dominated by Alder ( Alnus glutinosa), though Ash ( Fraxinus excelsior) is abundant in places and there is occasional Oak ( Quercus robur) and Wych Elm ( Ulmus glabra). In addition to the wide range of higher plants the woods support a diverse bryophyte flora including the uncommon epiphytes Radula complanata, Zygodon viridissimus and Orthotrichum affine. [4]
The site is private land with no public access.