The Blackwater Valley from Eversley in the west to Camberley in the east. Includes areas in Hampshire. The total area of the BOA is 529ha, 34ha of which are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and 119ha are Local Wildlife Sites.

Joint Character Area: Thames Basin Heaths

Geology: Alluvium and River Terrace sands and gravels. At the north edge there is occasional fringes of Bagshot Sand.

Topography: flat riverside land.

Biodiversity:

• Lowland Meadow: There are lowland meadows at the east end in the Blackwater Valley SSSI and a small area in a meadow at Eversley.


• Purple Moor Grass and Rush Pasture: This area has the main concentration of this habitat in Berkshire. Rush pasture is found in the Blackwater Valley SSSI and there is a small area in a meadow at Eversley.


• Standing Water: There are numerous Gravel Pits in the area including Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve. These sites are important for birds.


• Woodland: Fleet Copse is the largest area. There are a number of other small sites including Seebys Copse at Sandhurst.


• Other habitats: the gravel pits have marginal fen, woodland, scrub and grassland areas.

Access: There is controlled access around some of the gravel pits, such as Moor Green and Trilakes Country Park. A footpath follows the river for the eastern half of the area.

Targets and opportunities: Management and re-creation of grassland habitats, management of gravel pits and associated habitats. The Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership works within this area.

In the long term the aim should be to extend the target area through to the River Loddon in the west.