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Thatcham Reed Beds

Coordinates: 51°23′38″N 1°16′23″W / 51.394°N 1.273°W / 51.394; -1.273
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Thatcham Reed Beds
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Thatcham Reed Beds is located in Berkshire
Thatcham Reed Beds
Location within Berkshire
LocationBerkshire
Grid referenceSU 507 664[1]
Coordinates51°23′38″N 1°16′23″W / 51.394°N 1.273°W / 51.394; -1.273
InterestBiological
Area67.4 hectares (167 acres)[1]
Notification2002[1]
Location mapMagic Map

Thatcham Reed Beds is a 67.4-hectare (167-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Newbury in Berkshire.[1][2] It is part of the Kennet & Lambourn Floodplain Special Area of Conservation[3] and an area of 14 hectares (35 acres) is a Local Nature Reserve.[4][5] An area of 35 hectares (86 acres) is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.[6]

Thatcham Reed Beds is important nationally for its extensive reed bed, species-rich alder woodland and fen habitats. The latter supports Desmoulin's whorl snail (Vertigo moulinsiana), which is of national and European importance. A large assemblage of breeding birds including nationally rare species such as Cetti's warbler (Cettia cetti) is also associated with the reedbed, fen and open water habitats found at Thatcham Reed Beds.[7]

Thatcham's network of gravel pits, reedbed, woodland, hedges, and grassland is rich in wildlife and has been made into The Nature Discovery Centre by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Thatcham Reed Beds". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Map of Thatcham Reed Beds". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Designated Sites View: Kennet & Lambourn Floodplain". Special Areas of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Thatcham Reed Beds". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Map of Thatcham Reed Beds". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Thatcham Reedbeds". Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Thatcham Reed Beds citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Thatcham Reedbeds and Greenham Common". Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Archived from the original on 22 May 2006. Retrieved 22 September 2006.