Jump to content

St Austell Clay Pits: Difference between revisions

Add links
Coordinates: 50°23′37″N 4°49′12″W / 50.3935°N 4.8201°W / 50.3935; -4.8201
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m ISBNs (Build J/)
add {{Use dmy dates}} for sub-projects of WP:WikiProject England
 
(12 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox SSSI
{{Infobox SSSI
|name= St Austell Clay Pits
|name= St Austell Clay Pits
Line 5: Line 6:
|aos= Cornwall
|aos= Cornwall
|interest= Biological
|interest= Biological
|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|SW99658}}
|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|SW996587}}
|coordinates = {{coord|50.3935|-4.8201|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
|latitude= 50.3935
⚫
|displaymap= United Kingdom Cornwall (mainland)#UK England
|longitude= -4.8201
⚫
|displaymap= Cornwall (mainland)
|area={{convert|0.6|ha|km2 sqmi|sigfig=1}}
|area={{convert|0.6|ha|km2 sqmi|sigfig=1}}
|notifydate={{Start date|2000}}
|notifydate={{Start date|2000}}
Line 14: Line 14:
}}
}}


'''St Austell Clay Pits''' are a group of locations within active [[china clay]] [[quarry|quarries]] that form a single [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI) and [[Special Area of Conservation]], noted for its [[Flora and fauna of Cornwall|biological]] characteristics, in central [[Cornwall]], England. In particular, the site is known for the rare [[Western Rustwort|western rustwort]], a plant that grows only at two other sites in the UK.
'''St Austell Clay Pits''', (Cornwall, England, UK,) are a group of locations within active [[kaolinite|china clay]] [[quarry|quarries]] that form a single [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI) and [[Special Area of Conservation]], noted for its [[Flora and fauna of Cornwall|biological]] characteristics. In particular, the site is known for the rare [[Western Rustwort|western rustwort]], a plant that grows only at two other sites in the UK.


==Geography==
==Geography==
The {{convert|0.6|ha|acre|adj=on}} SSSI, notified in 2000, comprises three separate sites that are all about {{convert|4|mi|km}} north of the town of [[St Austell]].<ref name=SSSImap>{{cite web|title=St Austell Clay Pits map|url=http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=2000425,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL|publisher=[[Natural England]]|accessdate=10 January 2012}}</ref><ref name=OS>Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 200 ''Newquay & Bodmin'' ISBN 978-0-319-22938-5</ref> They all lie within china clay workings which are still active and are situated on either pits, [[spoil tip]]s or vegetation-covered [[granite|granitic]] debris.<ref name=SSSI>{{cite web|title=St Austell Clay Pits|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/2000425.pdf|publisher=[[Natural England]]|accessdate=10 January 2012|year=2000}}</ref> The combined site is also designated a [[Special Areas of Conservation]] (SAC).<ref name=SAC>{{cite web|title=St Austell Clay Pits|url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/protectedsites/sacselection/sac.asp?EUcode=UK0030282|publisher=[[Joint Nature Conservation Committee]]|accessdate=12 January 2012}}</ref>
The {{convert|0.6|ha|acre|adj=on}} SSSI, notified in 2000, comprises three separate sites that are all about {{convert|4|mi|km}} north of the town of [[St Austell]].<ref name=SSSImap>{{cite web|title=St Austell Clay Pits map|url=http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=2000425,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL|publisher=[[Natural England]]|accessdate=10 January 2012}}</ref><ref name=OS>Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 200 ''Newquay & Bodmin'' {{ISBN|978-0-319-22938-5}}</ref> They all lie within china clay workings which are still active and are situated on either pits, [[spoil tip]]s or vegetation-covered [[granite|granitic]] debris.<ref name=SSSI>{{cite web|title=St Austell Clay Pits|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/2000425.pdf|publisher=[[Natural England]]|accessdate=10 January 2012|year=2000}}</ref> The combined site is also designated a [[Special Areas of Conservation]] (SAC).<ref name=SAC>{{cite web|title=St Austell Clay Pits|url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/protectedsites/sacselection/sac.asp?EUcode=UK0030282|publisher=[[Joint Nature Conservation Committee]]|accessdate=12 January 2012}}</ref>


==Wildlife and ecology==
==Wildlife and ecology==
The SSSI owes its importance to a rare [[Marchantiophyta|liverwort]], the western rustwort (''[[Marsupella profunda]]''), which in the UK can be found only at this site and at two others: [[Lower Bostraze and Leswidden SSSI|Lower Bostraze and Leswidden]] and [[Tregonning Hill]] SSSIs, both within Cornwall, to the east. It is mostly found growing in moist conditions on [[mica|micaceous]] or clay waste substrates with no or little sloping, as well as on soft or crumbling granite rocks.<ref name=SSSI /><ref name=rustwort>{{cite web|title=1390 Western rustwort|url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/protectedsites/sacselection/species.asp?FeatureIntCode=S1390|publisher=[[Joint Nature Conservation Committee]]|accessdate=12 January 2012}}</ref>
The SSSI owes its importance to a rare [[Marchantiophyta|liverwort]], the western rustwort (''[[Marsupella profunda]]''), which in the UK can be found only at this site and at two others: [[Lower Bostraze and Leswidden SSSI|Lower Bostraze and Leswidden]] and [[Tregonning Hill]] SSSIs, both within Cornwall, to the west. It is mostly found growing in moist conditions on [[mica|micaceous]] or clay waste substrates with no or little sloping, as well as on soft or crumbling granite rocks.<ref name=SSSI /><ref name=rustwort>{{cite web|title=1390 Western rustwort|url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/protectedsites/sacselection/species.asp?FeatureIntCode=S1390|publisher=[[Joint Nature Conservation Committee]]|accessdate=12 January 2012}}</ref>


[[File:Lansalon Pit - geograph.org.uk - 974096.jpg|thumb|Lansalon Pit, within St Austell Clay Pits Important Plant Area]]
[[File:Lansalon Pit - geograph.org.uk - 974096.jpg|thumb|Lansalon Pit, within St Austell Clay Pits Important Plant Area]]
Line 26: Line 26:


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
* [[St Austell and Clay Country Eco-town]]
* [[St Austell and Clay Country Eco-town]]


Line 37: Line 38:
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified in 2000]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified in 2000]]
[[Category:Special Areas of Conservation in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Special Areas of Conservation in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Important Plant Areas in England]]
[[Category:St Austell]]

Latest revision as of 07:31, 20 April 2022

St Austell Clay Pits
Site of Special Scientific Interest
St Austell Clay Pits is located in Cornwall
St Austell Clay Pits
Location within Cornwall
St Austell Clay Pits is located in England
St Austell Clay Pits
St Austell Clay Pits (England)
LocationCornwall
Grid referenceSW996587
Coordinates50°23′37″N 4°49′12″W / 50.3935°N 4.8201°W / 50.3935; -4.8201
InterestBiological
Area0.6 hectares (0.006 km2; 0.002 sq mi)
Notification2000 (2000)
Natural England website

St Austell Clay Pits, (Cornwall, England, UK,) are a group of locations within active china clay quarries that form a single Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation, noted for its biological characteristics. In particular, the site is known for the rare western rustwort, a plant that grows only at two other sites in the UK.

Geography

[edit]

The 0.6-hectare (1.5-acre) SSSI, notified in 2000, comprises three separate sites that are all about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the town of St Austell.[1][2] They all lie within china clay workings which are still active and are situated on either pits, spoil tips or vegetation-covered granitic debris.[3] The combined site is also designated a Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).[4]

Wildlife and ecology

[edit]

The SSSI owes its importance to a rare liverwort, the western rustwort (Marsupella profunda), which in the UK can be found only at this site and at two others: Lower Bostraze and Leswidden and Tregonning Hill SSSIs, both within Cornwall, to the west. It is mostly found growing in moist conditions on micaceous or clay waste substrates with no or little sloping, as well as on soft or crumbling granite rocks.[3][5]

Lansalon Pit, within St Austell Clay Pits Important Plant Area

Owing to the presence of the rare western rustwort, Plantlife has designated a large area of active and disused mine workings in the St Austell area as an Important Plant Area, with the same name as the SSSI.[6] This area includes all the SSSI sites, as well as many others.[7] It is thought that the protected areas will act as a source for colonisation for the western rustwort to other locations in the surrounding china clay area.[5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "St Austell Clay Pits map". Natural England. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  2. ^ Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 200 Newquay & Bodmin ISBN 978-0-319-22938-5
  3. ^ a b "St Austell Clay Pits" (PDF). Natural England. 2000. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  4. ^ "St Austell Clay Pits". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  5. ^ a b "1390 Western rustwort". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  6. ^ "St Austell Clay Pits". Plantlife. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  7. ^ "St Austell Clay IPA map" (PDF). Plantlife. 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St_Austell_Clay_Pits&oldid=1083714533"