Stanford End Mill and River Loddon

Stanford End Mill and River Loddon is an area of natural grassland, between Beech Hill and Swallowfield in Berkshire, incorporating a stretch of the River Loddon and a mill built in early Victorian times on the Stratfield Saye estate. It was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1952, and expanded in 1986.[1] The site is of interest mainly because of two rare plants: the fritillary (Fritillary meleagris), a native bulb, and the Loddon pondweed (Potamogeton nodosus), a rare aquatic plant. The area supports a wide range of native meadow plants, and the river supports a variety of coarse fish species, water voles and nesting birds, including little grebe, moorhen, coot, mute swan and kingfisher.

Geography

The Broad Water has come through Stratfield Saye estate in Hampshire to the south, but here has reverted to the name of Loddon again. The weir is to the left and the remains of the mill race can just be seen to the right.

The site is 13.4 hectares in size.[2] The site is best described as natural grassland which also incorporates 4 km stretch of the River Loddon.[3][4]

History

In 1952 the site was designated a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).[4] The site boundary was revised in 1986 to include the River Loddon.[4]

The mill building was built in early Victorian times on the Stratfield Saye estate.[5]

Fauna

The site has the following animals[4]

Mammals

Birds

Invertebrates

Flora

The site has the following Flora:[4][3]

Trees


Plants


References

  1. ↑ Magic Map Application
  2. ↑ "Stanford End Mill and River Loddon SSSI". Natural england. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  3. 1 2 "Condition of SSSI Units for Site STANFORD END MILL AND RIVER LODDON". Natural england. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "SITE NAME: STANFORD END MILL AND RIVER LODDON" (PDF). Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  5. ↑ Wargrave Local History Society - May 2015
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