Fern House Gravel Pit facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Buckinghamshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 1.3 hectares |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Fern House Gravel Pit is a special place in Fern, near Bourne End in Buckinghamshire. It is a 1.3 hectare area that scientists study because of its unique geology. This site is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and also a Geological Conservation Review site.
Contents
What is Fern House Gravel Pit?
Fern House Gravel Pit is a small area of land, about the size of two football fields. It is important because it shows us layers of gravel from a very long time ago. These gravel layers are called the Taplow Gravel formation.
A Window into Earth's Past
The gravel at this site formed during a time called the Pleistocene epoch. This was a period of Earth's history often called the Ice Age. It happened between 2.6 million and 11,700 years ago.
Scientists study this site to learn more about the River Thames. They want to understand what the river was like between two major periods. One was the cold Anglian stage, about 450,000 years ago. During this time, glaciers changed the river's path. The other was the warm Ipswichian period, around 120,000 years ago.
Ancient Animal Discoveries
Fossils found at Fern House Gravel Pit tell us about the animals that lived here long ago. Scientists have discovered bones from amazing creatures. These include straight-tusked elephants and mammoths. Finding these fossils helps us imagine what the area was like thousands of years ago.
Can You Visit Fern House Gravel Pit?
This special site is on private land. This means that people cannot visit it without permission. It is protected so scientists can continue to study its important geology and fossils.
