Cotswold Commons and Beechwoods () is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1954.Natural England SSSI information on the citationCotswold District Local Plan, Appendix 1, Sites of Special Scientific Interest Stroud District Local Plan, adopted November 2005, Appendix 6 ‘Sites of Nature Conservation Interest’
The Commons and Beechwoods lie within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The site includes the Cotswold Commons and Beechwoods National Nature ReserveNatural England information on the woods of the NNR (maps, publications) and Cooper's Hill Local Nature Reserve. It is part registered as common land and part owned by National Trust.
The Cotswold Beechwoods are recognised as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive.Information on Cotswold Commons and Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation designationJoint Nature Conservation Committee Listing of Special Areas of Conservation
Location The site comprises ancient Beech woodland and unimproved grassland. It overlies Jurassic limestones and is at the western edge of the Cotswolds. It is located around the villages of Sheepscombe and Cranham, and along the top of the scarp between Painswick and Birdlip.
Species The woodlands are diverse in their species, and the grasslands are typical of unimproved calcareous pastures well known for the area. The area supports many rare species of plants (including several varieties of orchid) and is an exceptional area for invertebrates. There are some disused limestone mines which are used as winter roosts by several bat species.
Woodland The beechwoods are currently developed as a high forest structure, but have a long history of management for timber.
Commons The unimproved limestone grassland is mainly the common lands at Painswick Beacon, Cranham and Sheepscombe.
Publications Natural England publication on 'Buckholt Wood: Cotswold Commons and Beechwoods National Nature Reserve, (NE335), July 2012
References
SSSI Source Natural England SSSI information on the citation
External links
Natural England (SSSI information) National Trust