Helmdon Disused Railway

Helmdon Disused Railway
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationNorthamptonshire
Grid referenceSP 588 412[1]
InterestBiological
Area16.6 hectares[1]
Notification1990[1]
Location mapMagic Map

Helmdon Disused Railway is a 16.6-hectare (41-acre) linear biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Helmdon and Brackley in Northamptonshire.[1][2]

This site is the former embankment and cutting of the Great Central Railway, which closed in 1966.[3] It is Jurassic grassland, and limestone spoil heaps have a very diverse floral community. Butterflies include the nationally scarce wood white and five nationally declining species. It is the only location in the county for the small blue butterfly.[4]

A public footpath runs along the site.[5]

The route of the HS2 High Speed railway crosses the southern end of the site.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Helmdon Disused Railway". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Map of Helmdon Disused Railway". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  3. ^ "The Helmdon Trail". Helmdon.com. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Helmdon Disused Railway citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Clearing the way for the butterflies" (PDF). Helmdon Voice. Helmdon Parish Council. Spring 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  6. ^ High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Local Environmental Management Plan South Northamptonshire District Council (PDF). DfT. July 2017. pp. 6, 16, 20, 21. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
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52°04′01″N 1°08′35″W / 52.067°N 1.143°W / 52.067; -1.143