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Special Areas of Conservation

Cothill Fen

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Centroid* SU463999
Latitude 51.6956
Longitude -1.3294
SAC EU Code UK0012889
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 43.39
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Cothill Fen SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (1%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (25%)
  • Dry grassland, Steppes (2%)
  • Improved grassland (10%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (62%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • 7230 Alkaline fens

    This lowland valley mire contains one of the largest surviving examples of alkaline fen vegetation in central England, a region where fen vegetation is rare. The M13 Schoenus nigricans – Juncus subnodulosus vegetation found here occurs under a wide range of hydrological conditions, with frequent bottle sedge Carex rostrata, grass-of-Parnassus Parnassia palustris, common butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris and marsh helleborine Epipactis palustris. The alkaline fen vegetation forms transitions to other vegetation types that are similar to M24 Molinia caerulea – Cirsium dissectum fen-meadow and S25 Phragmites australis – Eupatorium cannabinum tall-herb fen and wet alder Alnus spp. wood.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

  • Not Applicable

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.