Cook's Wood Quarry facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| Area of Search | Somerset |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°13′46″N 2°28′32″W / 51.22932°N 2.47542°W |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 0.8 hectares (0.0080 km2; 0.0031 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1988 |
Cook's Wood Quarry, also known as Holcombe Quarry, is a special place in Somerset, England. It's located near Stoke St Michael on the Mendip Hills. This area is quite small, about 0.8 hectares, which is roughly the size of one and a half football fields. In 1988, it was recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a protected area because it has very important rocks or wildlife.
Contents
Why is Cook's Wood Quarry Special?
Cook's Wood Quarry is a very important spot for understanding Earth's history. It's a Geological Conservation Review Site, which means scientists have studied it carefully. The rocks here are called Carboniferous Limestone. They are very old, formed during a time period called the Carboniferous, millions of years ago.
What the Rocks Tell Us
The rocks at Cook's Wood Quarry are unique because they are "steeply-dipping." This means they are tilted at a sharp angle, almost standing on end! This tilting happened over a very long time due to powerful forces in the Earth. Scientists can learn a lot about how the Earth's crust moved by studying these tilted layers.
This quarry was also the original place where a specific time period in Earth's history, called the 'Cookswoodian Stage', was first studied. It's like a special chapter in Earth's story that scientists can read right here in these rocks.
Home to Amazing Animals
Even though it's a quarry, this site is a home for many different animals. It's a safe haven for nine different kinds of Bats. These flying mammals often use old quarries as places to roost and raise their young.
You can also find Dormice here, which are small, cute rodents known for sleeping a lot. There are also four types of Newts, which are small amphibians that live in water and on land. One of the most special newts found here is the rare Great Crested Newt. Protecting places like Cook's Wood Quarry helps these animals survive and thrive.
Future Plans for the Quarry
Cook's Wood Quarry is no longer used for digging out rocks. There are plans to change this disused quarry into a holiday retreat. This means it could become a place where people can stay for vacations in the future.
