Chawridge Bourne is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Berkshire, England Part of the site is a nature reserve called Chawridge Bank, which is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.
Etymology
The name Chawridge is first attested in a charter of 942, which includes the Old English phrase "on ceawan hrycges hagan" ("to the enclosure of Ceawa's ridge"), where Ceawa is a personal name attested only here and in the place-names East and West Challow. As well as appearing in Chawridge Bourne, the name also appears in the neighbouring sites of Chawridge Manor Farm, Charriage Lane, Chawridge Mead, and Chawridge Gorse.
Ecology
This linear site is named after the stream called Chawridge Bourne, which runs through it. Half of it is unimproved grassland, which is managed by sheep grazing. There are also areas of scrub and broadleaved woodland. On the east side there is an ancient parish boundary hedge which has diverse tree flora.
Fauna
The site has the following animals
Mammals
Micromys minutus
Birds
Alauda
Great spotted woodpecker
Eurasian blackcap
Lesser whitethroat
Invertebrates
Polyommatus icarus
Erynnis tages
Pyrgus malvae
Flora
The site has the following flora: