Roding Valley Meadows

{{Short description|Protected area in Essex, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox SSSI

|image=River Roding in Roding Valley Meadows 2.JPG

|image_caption=River Roding in Roding Valley Meadows

|name= Roding Valley Meadows

|aos= Essex

|interest= Biological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|TQ 436953}}

|area= 19.8 hectares

|notifydate=1987

|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002138%27 Magic Map]

}}

Roding Valley Meadows is an {{convert|18.9|hectare|acre|adj=on}} biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Buckhurst Hill in Essex.{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002138%27 |title=Roding Valley Meadows citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 6 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002138.pdf |title=Map of Roding Valley Meadows|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 6 August 2016}} It is part of a 65.2 hectare Local Nature Reserve with the same name, which is owned by Epping Forest District Council and Grange Farm Trust, and managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.{{cite web|url= http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=0&N=roding&ID=369|title=Roding Valley Meadows |series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England| date = 16 March 2016|access-date= 6 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271009105%27 |title=Map of Roding Valley Meadows|series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England| access-date= 6 August 2016}}

The meadows are bordered to the south west by the River Roding. They form one of the largest areas of grassland in Essex which are traditionally managed as hay meadows, flood meadows and marshland. They have a rich variety of plant species, including the largest beds in Essex of the rare brown sedge. The flood meadows have a number of uncommon species, including carex panicea and marsh-marigold. There are nearly ten miles of hedgerows. Management is by hay cutting and grazing by traditional breeds of cattle.{{cite web|url= http://www.essexwt.org.uk/reserves/roding-valley-meadows |title= Roding Valley Meadows |publisher=Essex Wildlife Trust|access-date= 6 August 2016}}

The main car park is on Roding Lane.