Northern Gateway and Oxford Meadows SSSI/SAC, by Judy Webb

http://judithwebb.weebly.com/

Migrant waders over winter floods on Port Meadow, photo: Alison McDonald

Oxford Meadows SSSIs and SAC• Pixey and Yarnton meads SSSI (includes Oxey mead)

[in Cherwell]. Haymeadows• Wolvercote meadows SSSI [in City] haymeadows• Cassington Meadows SSSI [in West Oxon]

haymeadows• Port Meadow with Wolvercote Common and Green

SSSI grazing meadow and marsh [in city] Note Wolv. Green not part of SAC

Habitats Regulations Assessment Conclusion: ‘it is considered highly unlikely that the development will have an adverse effecton the integrity of the SAC.’ What is the integrity of the SAC??

This is Oxford Meadows Special Area of Conservation SAC

Shiplake Ditch separates Port Meadow from Wolvercote common

Port Meadow Floods, Jan 2014 from the north

photo by permission of ‘Air Experiences’

Port Meadow flowers, from common to very rare

Cuckoo flower, dandelions, bird’s foot trefoil and few cowslips

Marsh Arrow grass, Triglochin palustre,

arrow shaped seedheads

Round fruited rush, Juncus compressus

Tubular water –dropwort Oenanthe fistulosa

The very rare – Creeping Marshwort, Apium repens

This small plant is the only reason Port Meadow has SAC status!

Port Meadow important fungi, NW area

Toasted waxcap, Hygrocybe colemanniana, parrot waxcap Hygrocybe psittacina and lead grey puffball Bovista plumbea

Meadow coral Clavulinopsis corniculata, golden spindles Clavulinopsis helvola and oily waxcap Hygrocybe quieta

The Haymeadows, flora & fauna