Cleeve Common facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Cleeve Common panorama
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| Area of Search | Gloucestershire |
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| Coordinates | 51°55′59″N 2°00′55″W / 51.93296°N 2.015225°W |
| Interest | Biological/Geological |
| Area | 455 hectare |
| Notification | 1974 |
Cleeve Common is a huge area of land in Gloucestershire, England. It covers about 455 hectares, which is like 1,124 football fields! This special place was officially recognized in 1974. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because it has unique plants, animals, and rocks.
A small charity called Cleeve Common Trust takes care of this amazing area. It's located in the beautiful Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, specifically on Cleeve Hill. Part of the common is also a golf course. Cleeve Common is important for both its living creatures and its ancient geology.
Amazing Plants and Animals
Cleeve Common is home to many different types of grasslands. These grasslands grow differently depending on the sunlight, soil, and how much animals graze there. This variety helps many rare plants to grow.
- Rare Orchids: You can find several types of rare orchids here. These include the beautiful bee orchid, the tiny frog orchid, and the sweet-smelling musk orchid.
- Open Habitats: Old quarries and rocky areas create open spaces. These spots are perfect for plants that like less crowded places.
- Incredible Insects: The common is also buzzing with many different invertebrates. Look out for colorful butterflies like the dark green fritillary, the grayling, and the marsh fritillary. A very rare snail called Abide secale also lives here.
Rocks and Ancient History
Cleeve Common is a fantastic place to learn about Earth's history through its rocks. The rocks here are mostly Jurassic limestone. They sit on top of the Cotswold hills.
- Unique Rock Layers: Special rock layers called the Bouguetia and phillipsiana beds are found here. These layers are part of the Middle Inferior Oolite rock formation. They are very rare and are only seen at a place called Rolling Bank Quarry.
- Ancient Fossils: These unique rock layers contain special fossils. You can find ancient shells from bivalves, snails (gastropods), and brachiopods.
- One-of-a-Kind in Britain: These rock outcrops are the only examples in Britain from a specific time in the Middle Jurassic period, called the Bajocian time interval. This makes Cleeve Common incredibly important for geologists.
- Interesting Landforms: Another area, Postlip Warren, shows cool "ridge and trough" shapes in the landscape. These are formed by the natural geology of the area.
- Protected Geological Sites: Pot Quarry and Rolling Bank Quarry are so important that they are listed as Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS). The Cleeve Cloud Fault Section is also a designated RIGS.
