Hunsdon Mead is a 34 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) west of Harlow and east of Roydon in Essex. The site is partly in Essex and partly in Hertfordshire, and it is jointly owned and managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust and the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. The SSSI also includes part of the neighbouring Roydon Mead. The planning authorities are East Hertfordshire District Council and Epping Forest District Council.[1][2] Hunsdon Mead is registered common land.[3]
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 | |
| Location | Essex Hertfordshire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | TL418110 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 34.0 hectares |
| Notification | 1984 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Hunsdon Mead is located between the River Stort and the Stort Navigation. It is unimproved grassland which is subject to winter flooding. As a result of its location and traditional management it supports a number of uncommon plants. Notable grass species include meadow brome and the quaking grass Briza media, and there are other unusual flora such as pepper saxifrage and green-winged orchid. Roydon Mead lies east of the Stort Navigation, and both have large flocks of over-wintering birds.[1]
There is access from the Stort Navigation towpath.
See also
edit- List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Hertfordshire
- List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Essex
References
edit- ^ a b "Hunsdon Mead citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Map of Hunsdon Mead". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Hunsdon Mead and Eastwick Mead". Common Land in England. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
External links
edit- "Hunsdon and Eastwick Meads". Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- "Hunsdon Mead Nature Reserve". Essex Wildlife Trust.