SUMMARY OF WILDLIFE AND ECOLOGY
The combination of riverside landscape and agricultural
land, together with plenty of mature gardens, provides
a diverse habitat for birds, mammals and reptiles in Barford and the surrounding area.
A total of 60 species of bird have been observed in the Parish in the last two or three years, but there are undoubtedly more than this. Of particular interest is a report of barn owls nesting in the Alderham area, and the confirmed sighting of goosanders on the river.
At least nine species of fish (as listed by the Environment Agency) are found in the local stretch of the River Avon.
Otters have colonised the lower reaches of the Avon (see below), and the Environment Agency
have advised that all watercourses in the area are potential habitats for otters
and
as such should be sensitively managed in order to protect and encourage these
animals.
In addition, several other species can be frequently seen in the Parish,
including both fallow and muntjac deer, badgers, hares and bats.
There are no Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the Parish, and it is unlikely that there are any rare species of plant to be found. There are fine shows of snowdrops and bluebells to be seen in the woodland areas, which themselves are mainly mixed deciduous.
There are some excellent specimens of mature conifer, such as cedar, Scots pine and redwood, to be found in the village area, and a wealth of both white and pink flowering mature horse-chestnuts. The hedgerows consist of quite a large variety of species, with hawthorn, elder and blackthorn being predominant, interspersed with dog rose and honeysuckle.
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