Badgeworth SSSI, Gloucestershire
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Closeup of flowering of Adder's-tongue Spearwort at the Badgeworth nature reserve in June 2012
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 Location within Gloucestershire
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| Area of Search | Gloucestershire |
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| Grid reference | SO911206 |
| Coordinates | 51°53′04″N 2°07′48″W / 51.884338°N 2.129985°WCoordinates: 51°53′04″N 2°07′48″W / 51.884338°N 2.129985°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 3.08 hectare |
| Notification | 1954 |
| Natural England website | |
Badgeworth SSSI (grid reference SO 911206) is a 3.08-hectare (7.6-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire notified in 1954 and renotified in 1983. Part of this site (grid reference SO910206) is owned and managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve.
There are two units of assessment. The nature reserve is unit 1 and the northerly field is unit 2.
It is one of only two sites in the United Kingdom where the Adder's-tongue Spearwort (Ranunculus ophioglossifolius) occurs; in Gloucestershire this species has acquired the name "Badgeworth buttercup" through its association with this site. The site is near the Gloucestershire village of Badgeworth. The other known population is at Inglestone Common near Wickwar in South Gloucestershire.
The site is a depression on Blue Lias clay, which fills seasonally with rain water and run-off from adjoining pasture to create the wetland habitat which is needed for the plant.
The reserve handbook contains a timeline history. The original reserve dates from 1935 when it was only 290 sq. metres. In 1964 an entry in the Guinness Book of Records described Badgeworth as the world's smallest nature reserve. A further 100 sq. metres was added in 1975. A field of pasture was added in 2002. The seasonal pond is known as Cold Pool which is marshy grassland. The area added in 1975 is known as Warren's Pool. The SSSI designation includes another field of pasture which is not part of the reserve. Adder's-tongue Spearwort has been known at the Badgeworth (Cold Pool) site since 1890. A stock drinking pond was created (now known as Warren's Pool). The site was presented to the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves (now the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts in 1933 and was the first official nature reserve in Gloucestershire. A local management committee was formed and the area was fenced, gated and walkways created over the wet ground. The reserve currently has walkways for people to view the buttercup and there is an annual Open Day event as the reserve is kept locked. The site was given to the Gloucestershire Trust for Nature Conservation (now the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust) in 1962 and was the first reserve to be managed by the Trust in Gloucestershire. It has been owned by the Trust since 1991.
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