Garden Cliff facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Garden Cliff near Westbury
|
|
| Area of Search | Gloucestershire |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°48′49″N 2°24′35″W / 51.813566°N 2.409746°W |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 5.1 hectare |
| Notification | 1954 |
Garden Cliff is a special place in Gloucestershire, England. It is a protected area known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it has unique natural features that are important to study and protect. Garden Cliff was officially recognized as an SSSI in 1954 because of its amazing geology. It covers about 5.1 hectares, which is roughly the size of five rugby fields.
Contents
Where is Garden Cliff Located?
Garden Cliff is found near a village called Westbury on Severn. This area is part of the beautiful Forest of Dean district. It's a key spot for scientists who study ancient rocks and Earth's history.
Why is Garden Cliff Special?
This site is very important for understanding a time period called the Rhaetic age. This was a time long, long ago, before the dinosaurs became dominant. Scientists first described Garden Cliff in detail way back in 1822.
The rocks at Garden Cliff show a complete sequence of layers. These layers tell a story about Earth's past, from the "Tea Green Maria" to the beginning of the "Lower Lias" period. It's like a giant history book made of stone!
Garden Cliff is also the main place where a specific rock layer, called the "Westbury Bed," was first identified. This means it's the standard example for that type of rock.
What are "Bone Beds"?
One of the most exciting things about Garden Cliff is that it contains several "bone beds." These are layers of rock packed with lots of fossil bones. These bones come from ancient creatures that lived during the Rhaetic age. Scientists study these bone beds to learn about the animals that roamed the Earth millions of years ago.
The site is also very useful for "comparative studies." This means scientists can compare the rocks and fossils found here with those found in other places around the world. This helps them understand how Earth's environment changed over time.
Keeping Garden Cliff Safe
A report from Natural England in August 2011 stated that Garden Cliff is in "good condition." This means that the important geological features are well-preserved and protected. It's great news that this special place is being looked after for future generations to learn from and enjoy.
