Freshfield Lane facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | West Sussex |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 17.0 hectares (42 acres) |
| Notification | 1999 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Freshfield Lane is a special place in West Sussex, England. It covers about 17 hectares (which is like 42 football fields!). This area is protected because of its amazing geology. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is very important for understanding Earth's history.
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What is Freshfield Lane?
Freshfield Lane is located east of Haywards Heath. It's a working quarry, which means people dig here to get rocks and minerals. But it's not just any quarry! It's also a "Geological Conservation Review" site. This means it's one of the best places in the country to study rocks and how our planet has changed over millions of years.
A Window to the Past
The rocks you can see at Freshfield Lane are incredibly old. They belong to something called the Wealden Group. These rocks formed during the Lower Cretaceous period. This was a very long time ago, between 140 and 113 million years ago! Imagine dinosaurs roaming the Earth back then.
The quarry helps scientists see layers of rock that tell a story. These layers show what the environment was like millions of years ago. They can reveal ancient rivers, lakes, or even forests that once existed here.
What Can We Learn Here?
Experts from Natural England say Freshfield Lane is super important. It helps us learn about:
- Ancient Environments: By studying the rocks, scientists can figure out what the climate and landscape were like millions of years ago. This is called palaeoenvironmental study.
- Rock Origins: They can also learn where the rocks originally came from. This helps them understand how Earth's crust moved and changed. This is called provenance study.
- Old Maps of Earth: The site helps scientists create maps of what the Earth looked like long ago. This is known as palaeogeographical study.
Visiting Freshfield Lane
Even though it's a working quarry, there are ways to explore the area. You can find footpaths around the edges of the site. These paths let you see some of the amazing geology from a safe distance. It's a great spot for anyone interested in rocks, fossils, or Earth's ancient past.
