Iffley Meadows
Island in the River Thames in Oxfordshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iffley Meadows is a 36.1-hectare (89-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Oxford in Oxfordshire.[1][2] It is owned by Oxford City Council and managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust[3]
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| |
| Location | Oxfordshire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | SP 523 037[1] |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 36.1 hectares (89 acres)[1] |
| Notification | 1986[1] |
| Location map | Magic Map |
These flood meadows on Iffley Island, between two arms of the River Thames, are traditionally managed for hay and pasture. A large part of the site is on clay, and it is enriched by silt each year when it is flooded. There is a rich grassland flora, with the outstanding feature being 89,000 snake's head fritillaries, which produce purple flowers in the spring. There is a network of old river channels, ditches and overgrown hedges.[3][4]