The steeply sloping Chilterns Escarpment runs from Wendover to Bradenham and contains many calcareous grassland and woodland SSSIs. It is adjacent to the Dunsmore Woodlands and Radnage Valley BOAs.
Area Coverage: 771 ha
Local wildlife sites: 7
SSSI: 6
BAP Habitat:
Lowland Calcareous Grassland: 66.5 ha
Lowland Beech and Yew woodland: 120 ha
Lowland Heathland: 10 ha
Joint Character Area: Chilterns (small area in Upper Thames Clay Vales)
Landscape Types: Wooded agricultural land
Geology: Chalk
Topography: A very steeply sloping chalk escarpment rising to 260m at Coombe Hill
Biodiversity:
Calcareous Grassland – There is Calcareous Grassland in many SSSIs including Bacombe and Coombe Hills, Ellesborough and Kimble Warren, Grangelands and Pulpit Hill, Windsor Hill as well as on LRS such as Brush Hill and Whiteleaf Cross and LWSs. There are no large contiguous expanses of calcareous grassland however and most sites are isolated from each other by other habitats.
Woodland – There are several woodland SSSIs Ellesborough and Kimble Warren, Grangelands and Pulpit Hill, Windsor Hill, Bradenham Woods and other BAP woodland on LWSsWood.
Pasture & Parkland – Chequers offers parkland habitat. Parts of Giles and Ninn woods are managed as wood pasture.
Targets:
Lowland Calcareous Grassland – Management, Restoration, Creation
Woodland – Management, Restoration
Wood Pasture & Parkland – Management, Restoration
Archaeology:
Chequers is a registered historic parks and garden. There are 8 scheduled ancient monuments all in the northern half of the BOA.
Places to visit:
The grassland SSSIs are open access. There are 2 LNRs near Princes Risborough (Brush Hill and Whiteleaf Cross)
