Thame Valley

The Thame Valley BOA covers the Thame between Waterperry and Haddenham.

Area Coverage: 473 ha
Local wildlife sites: 0
SSSI: 0
BAP Habitat: 
Lowland Wood/Pasture & Parkland: 12 ha
Floodplain Grazing Marsh: 27.5 ha

Joint Character Area: Upper Thames Clay Vales with a small area in the Midvale Ridge.

Landscape Types: Mostly agricultural unwooded land, including floodplain grassland.

Geology: Predominantly mudstone and limestone interbedded, overlain by sand, silt and gravels.

Topography: A gently undulating valley.

Lowland Meadows: There is a concentration of neural grassland sites and a number of wet grassland fields within the floodplain.

Biodiversity:
Rivers and Streams – The River Thame and its tributaries offer an important means for species distribution through the area.
Lowland Meadows – There is a concentration of neural grassland sites.
Hedgerows – There are concentrations of pre-18th century enclosure around Shabbington and these may contain species rich hedgerows.
Ponds – There are ponds scattered across the area.
Wood Pasture and Parkland – There is potential parkland habitat at Tythrop House.

Targets:
Rivers and Streams – Management, Restoration
Lowland Meadows –Management, Restoration, Creation
Hedgerows – Management, Restoration, Creation
Ponds – Management, Restoration, Creation
Wood Pasture & Parkland – Management, Restoration

Archaeology:
There is ridge and furrow scattered across the area. There are three Registered Parks and Gardens – Eythrope Park, Mentmore and Hartwell House. There are 12 SAMs in the area.

Places to visit:
There are some public footpaths crossing the BOA.