Long Herdon Meadow

Long Herdon Meadow is a 4.5 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Marsh Gibbon in Buckinghamshire.[1][2] It is part of Upper Ray Meadows nature reserve, which is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.[3]

Long Herdon Meadow
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Area of SearchBuckinghamshire
Grid referenceSP648202
InterestBiological
Area4.5 hectares
Notification1985
Location mapMagic Map

The site is an alluvial meadow next to the River Ray in the Vale of Aylesbury. It has clay soil and is liable to flooding. A regime of a hay cut followed by cattle grazing, without the use of artificial fertilisers, has resulted in a diverse grassland habitat now rare in England. Herbs include meadow buttercup, lesser knapweed and devil's bit scabious. Ditches and the riverbank provide a permanently wet habitat, encouraging wading birds such as snipe and curlew. Invertebrates include damselflies.[1]

There is access from the Bernwood Jubilee Way between Marsh Gibbon and the A41 road, adjacent to the River Ray.

References
  1. "Long Herdon Meadow citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  2. "Map of Long Herdon Meadow". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  3. "Upper Ray Meadows". Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 20 March 2016.

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