Chawridge Bourne is a 9.4-hectare (23-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Berkshire, England Part of the site is a 5-hectare (12-acre) 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:

Trees

• Crataegus monogyna
• Prunus spinosa
• Fraxinus
• Maple
• Quercus robur
• Malus sylvestris
• Sorbus torminalis

Plants

• Arrhenatherum elatius
• Holcus lanatus
• Dactylis glomerata
• Deschampsia cespitosa
• Festuca rubra
• Achillea ptarmica
• Genista tinctoria
• Hordeum secalinum
• Ophioglossum vulgatum
• Primula veris
• Silaum silaus
• Senecio erucifolius
• Carex pallescens
• Potentilla anglica
• Succisa pratensis
• Ranunculus auricomus
• Phyllitis scolopendrium
• Polystichum setiferum
• Centaurea nigra
• Leontodon taraxacoides