Area One, UG9010.

Some of this squares principle features are the town of Loja one of the provinces larger urban areas, the A92 Autovia, Granada to Bobadilla railway line and the Rio Genil. Smaller villages include Rio Frio, Venta Santa Barbara,
Most of the Northern and central areas are either covered in small stripes of agricultural land or planted with vast swathes of Olives and Almond, which are dotted with small copses of Oak woodland. There are several low hills / mountains breaking up the area and where Olives have not been planted they are covered in Broom or herb scrub, an important habitat for many of the Orchid species. Along the valley on the Western edge of the Sierra there are some larger fields put down to cereal.
The southern section contains the North Western slopes of Sierra de Loja which have a small but important area of pine woodlands, spreading from the A92 up to about 800-900 meters, above this area there are large areas of Limestone grasslands and Broom scrub. A feature of this habitat are the piles of stones which the Goat herders have stacked up over many years to allow more grass to grow for their animals to graze, many species of birds and reptiles have also made use of them as feeding and nest sites. The mountain just to the North of Loja Hacho is a good site for Orchids and has at least one pair of breeding Eagle Owls. Access is very good via the many roads and tracks that cross the area.
Most of the Northern and central areas are either covered in small stripes of agricultural land or planted with vast swathes of Olives and Almond, which are dotted with small copses of Oak woodland. There are several low hills / mountains breaking up the area and where Olives have not been planted they are covered in Broom or herb scrub, an important habitat for many of the Orchid species. Along the valley on the Western edge of the Sierra there are some larger fields put down to cereal.
The southern section contains the North Western slopes of Sierra de Loja which have a small but important area of pine woodlands, spreading from the A92 up to about 800-900 meters, above this area there are large areas of Limestone grasslands and Broom scrub. A feature of this habitat are the piles of stones which the Goat herders have stacked up over many years to allow more grass to grow for their animals to graze, many species of birds and reptiles have also made use of them as feeding and nest sites. The mountain just to the North of Loja Hacho is a good site for Orchids and has at least one pair of breeding Eagle Owls. Access is very good via the many roads and tracks that cross the area.