WHAT IS A SSSI?
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) include England's best wildlife and geological sites, and their maintenance is key to preserving our natural history and landscapes. In England, there are over 4,100 SSSIs, covering 7% of the total area. Many will also be Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Nature Reserves or Special Protection Areas (SPAs).
Why is Shotover a SSSI?
The Shotover Country Park became a SSSI in 1986. The reasons for this include:
For more information, please visit Natural England's page on Shotover SSSI
How is Shotover managed?
As a SSSI, management of Shotover Country Park must include:
We believe that Westhill Farm Project will add to each of these, helping to manage the habitats of Shotover but also encourage the users of Shotover to learn about the natural environment, permaculture and how they can help preserve Shotover's rich diversity for future generations.
How can you help?
Protecting the SSSIs is a shared responsibility. Simple ways you can help include:
You can also volunteer with the Oxford Conservation Volunteers, who are doing a fantastic job maintaining and restoring Shotover's natural landscape. Annie Batten, one of the volunteers, asked her fellow group members what they loved and these were there responses:
"a feel good factor, a love of our environment & a desire to learn more about nature. An enjoyment of being outside andkeeping fit, learning new skills and gaining a better understanding about the management techniques employed. But most importantly we all share a sense of achievement and belonging - quite often missing in our everyday modern lives"
Why is Shotover a SSSI?
The Shotover Country Park became a SSSI in 1986. The reasons for this include:
- It being part of the ancient woodland remnants of Shotover Forest, with history dating back to the 13th Century
- It is on oolitic limestone, allowing for a presence of lime-loving plants
- The flora is very rich, including 221 recorded plant species, 46 of these being only found in ancient woodlands
- Shotover Hill is one of the few examples of unimproved grassland and heathland in Oxfordshire, therefore management is needed to reinstate this.
- Some of Britain's earliest scientific botanical collections were collected in Shotover.
- Shotover has many rare species, including birds, true flies, and bees, wasps and ants (aculeates). The total, recorded number of aculeates is 174, one of the highest in Britain.
For more information, please visit Natural England's page on Shotover SSSI
How is Shotover managed?
As a SSSI, management of Shotover Country Park must include:
- Open habitats
- Heath and acid grassland
- Marsh and wetland
- Scrubland
- Highforest
- Visiting experience
- Information provision
- Community involvement
We believe that Westhill Farm Project will add to each of these, helping to manage the habitats of Shotover but also encourage the users of Shotover to learn about the natural environment, permaculture and how they can help preserve Shotover's rich diversity for future generations.
How can you help?
Protecting the SSSIs is a shared responsibility. Simple ways you can help include:
- Leaving only footprints, not litter
- Taking only photos, not the flora and fauna itself
- Not encouraging high pollution levels or deforestation at the SSSI (e.g. fires, industry, car fumes)
You can also volunteer with the Oxford Conservation Volunteers, who are doing a fantastic job maintaining and restoring Shotover's natural landscape. Annie Batten, one of the volunteers, asked her fellow group members what they loved and these were there responses:
"a feel good factor, a love of our environment & a desire to learn more about nature. An enjoyment of being outside andkeeping fit, learning new skills and gaining a better understanding about the management techniques employed. But most importantly we all share a sense of achievement and belonging - quite often missing in our everyday modern lives"