Pilch Fields

Green Winged Orchid
© Richard Bowsher

Pilch Fields are a pair of old meadows that are surrounded by tall hedgerows. One of them has an area with ridges and furrows that were created when farmers used to plough fields with horse-drawn machinery.

Meadows like these used to be common but modern agricultural techniques such as deep ploughing, heavy drainage and the use of fertilisers have destroyed many and they are now rare.

Many wild flowers can be found at Pilch Fields including Cowslip, Red Clover, Dwarf Thistle and several species of orchid. There are also numerous anthills inhabited by Yellow Meadow Ants, a favourite food of Green Woodpeckers.

Pilch Fields were designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1976 and are now owned and managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

Burnet moths
© Richard Bowsher

• Cowslip
• Red Clover
• Green-winged orchid
• Common Spotted orchid
• Dwarf Thistle
• Six-Spot Burnet Moth
• Marbled White Butterfly
• Yellow Meadow Ant
• Green Woodpecker

For more information call 01296 696012 or email erc@buckscc.gov.uk

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