Oxfordshire has a diverse geology crossed by eight river systems creating a gentle yet complex landscape. It supports a wide variety of habitats, from fragrant chalk grasslands scented with wild to thyme to beech woodlands filled with bluebells; from pockets of damp reedy fen and acid grassland to marshy meadows full of birds. It is home to many rare and threatened plants and animals and has a high proportion of locally, nationally and internationally important sites; 39 Conservation Target Areas (CTAs), 7 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) 111 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and 472 Local Wildlife Sites.
Image: Rare chalk stream habitat
