Pilch
Fields are a pair of old meadows that are surrounded by tall hedgerows. One of them has an
area with ridges and furrows that were created when farmers used to plough fields with
horse-drawn machinery.
Meadows like these used to be common but modern agricultural techniques
such as deep ploughing, heavy drainage and the use of fertilisers have destroyed many and
they are now rare. |
Many wild
flowers can be found at Pilch Fields including Cowslip, Red Clover, Dwarf Thistle and
several species of orchid. There are also numerous anthills inhabited by Yellow Meadow
Ants, a favourite food of Green Woodpeckers.
Pilch Fields were designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in
1976 and are now owned and managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. |
