Brimble Pit and Cross Swallet Basins facts for kids

Brimble Pit and Cross Swallet Basins is a very special place in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, England. It covers about 154.3 hectares, which is like 381 football fields! This area was officially recognized in 1987 as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because of its amazing geology.

What Makes This Place Special?

This SSSI includes two unique areas called Brimble Pit and Cross Swallet. These are like giant, shallow bowls in the ground. Water drains into them and disappears underground. They are the best examples of these types of landforms in the southern Mendip Hills.

Amazing Geology

The Brimble Pit area used to be a big lake. Now, its old lakebed is full of sinkholes where water goes underground. The Cross Swallet Basin has one active sinkhole. Around this sinkhole, you can see cool, well-preserved terraces made of rock and dirt. Both areas also have dry channels that used to carry overflow water.

This site is also important for its ancient history. Scientists have found bones of mammals from the Pleistocene and Quaternary periods (the Ice Age). These bones were found inside old caves at Westbury Quarry.

Ancient Discoveries

Between 1991 and 1992, a person named William Stanton explored the Cross Swallet area. He was looking for caves. But he found something even more exciting: old objects made by humans! He carefully collected these items. Among them were 42 pieces of ancient pottery called Grooved Ware. He also found a shiny axe head made of green stone. These finds tell us about people who lived here long, long ago.

Nature and Ownership

Part of this special area is also a nature reserve called Cook's Fields. The Somerset Wildlife Trust helps to look after it. This helps protect the plants and animals that live there.

Natural England divides the SSSI into smaller sections. The Church Commissioners own some of the land in one of these sections.