Bleadon Hill facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Avon |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°18′45″N 2°55′54″W / 51.3124°N 2.9318°W |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 33.41 acres (0.1352 km2; 0.05220 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1999 |
Bleadon Hill is a special place in North Somerset, England. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which means it's protected because of its unique natural features. This particular SSSI covers about 13.52 hectares (that's about 33 acres, or the size of 25 football fields!) and was officially recognized in 1999. It's located just north of the village of Bleadon.
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What Makes Bleadon Hill Special?
Bleadon Hill is a very important spot for scientists who study the Earth's history. It's part of something called the Geological Conservation Review. This means it has special rocks and soil that help us understand how our planet changed over millions of years.
Ancient Sands and Gravels
On the southern side of Bleadon Hill, you can find a low ridge made of sand and gravel. These aren't just any old sand and gravel! They are from a time called the Pleistocene period, which was part of the Quaternary period. This was a time when huge ice sheets covered much of the Earth.
The sand and gravel here are special because they are "calcite-cemented." This means they are stuck together by a natural glue called calcite, which is a common mineral. Scientists have different ideas about how these sediments got here. Some think they were left by the sea, others by glaciers (huge sheets of ice).
Clues from the Ice Age
One interesting idea is that these sands and gravels might have formed when a massive ice sheet pushed up against Bleadon Hill during the Quaternary period. Studying the way these sediments are formed (which is called sedimentology) helps scientists figure out the most likely story. It's like finding clues to solve a mystery about Earth's past!
A Look Back in Time: Human History
Besides its amazing geology, Bleadon Hill also has a long history of human activity. People have used this land for farming for a very long time.
Farming Through the Ages
There is evidence that people were farming on Bleadon Hill during the Middle Ages. This was a period in European history that lasted from about the 5th to the 15th century. It's even possible that people were farming here as far back as Roman times, which was thousands of years ago! This shows how important this land has been to people for centuries.
