Briton's Lane Gravel Pit facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Norfolk |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 21.5 hectares (53 acres) |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Briton's Lane Gravel Pit is a very important natural site located near Sheringham in Norfolk, England. It covers about 21.5 hectares, which is roughly the size of 30 football fields! This area is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because it helps us understand Earth's history.
This special pit is also part of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which means it's a beautiful landscape protected for its natural importance. It's also recognized as a Geological Conservation Review site, making it a key place for studying geology in the UK.
Contents
What is Briton's Lane Gravel Pit?
Briton's Lane Gravel Pit is a working quarry. This means people dig out sand and gravel from the ground here. But it's not just any quarry; it's a window into the past!
A Look into the Ice Age
The sand and gravel found at this site are very old. They were left behind by a massive ice age event called the Anglian glaciation. This happened around 425,000 years ago! Imagine huge sheets of ice covering much of Britain.
How the Gravel Formed
As the Anglian ice age ended, these giant ice sheets began to melt. The melting ice carried huge amounts of rocks, sand, and gravel with it. When the ice finally disappeared, it left behind these materials, forming the deposits we see today at Briton's Lane Gravel Pit. Studying these layers helps scientists learn about ancient climates and how our landscape was shaped by ice.
Can You Visit?
Briton's Lane Gravel Pit is on private land. This means it is not open to the public, and you cannot visit it. Its main purpose is for scientific study and for the quarrying of materials.
