Goblin Combe facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Avon |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°22′59″N 2°45′32″W / 51.383°N 2.759°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 51.87 hectares (0.5187 km2; 0.2003 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1999 |
Goblin Combe is a special valley in North Somerset, England. It stretches for about 3.5 kilometers (2 miles). The valley goes from Redhill near Bristol Airport to Cleeve.
A "combe" is a type of valley, similar to the Welsh word "cwm." Goblin Combe is a 52 hectares (128 acres) Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a protected area because of its important plants and animals. It was first protected in 1999. Part of the combe, about 9 hectares (22 acres), is looked after by the Avon Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve.
Above the valley, you can find Cleeve Toot. This is an Iron Age hillfort, which was an ancient settlement. It's shaped like an oval, about 125 metres (410 ft) long and 90 metres (300 ft) wide. Another smaller settlement is nearby. These places might have been connected to Cadbury Hill. People have found holes in the ground, which suggests there were round houses here long ago. There's also an old stone wall and a ditch, plus ancient fields from prehistoric or Roman times.
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A Magical Folk Tale About Primroses
Goblin Combe has a fun old story about fairies and flowers. It goes like this:
Once, some children were picking primroses. A little girl wandered off into Goblin Combe all by herself. She was very young and got lost. She started to cry, and her tears fell onto her clothes. She leaned against a rock.
Suddenly, the rock opened up! Inside were fairies who came to comfort her. They gave her a golden ball and led her safely home. They did this because she was carrying primroses.
Everyone in the village was amazed! A magician heard the story and thought he could get more gold balls. So, he picked a bunch of primroses and went into Goblin Combe. He was happy to get inside the rock after all the strange things he saw and heard on his way.
But it wasn't the right day, and he didn't have the right number of primroses. Plus, he wasn't a sweet little child. So, the fairies kept him!
Amazing Plants and Animals
Goblin Combe is home to many interesting plants and animals. It's a great place to see different kinds of wildlife.
Unique Plants in the Valley
You can find some rare plants here. One is the stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus). It grows on the rocky slopes near Cleeve Toot. This plant is naturally found in this area.
Another rare plant is the Limestone fern (Gymnocarpum robertianum). It also grows on the limestone rocks. Other beautiful flowers include the autumn gentian, autumn ladies'-tresses, and yellow-wort.
Butterflies of Goblin Combe
The combe is also a fantastic spot for butterflies. Over 30 different kinds of butterflies have been seen here!
Some of these include the grizzled skipper and dingy skipper. You might also spot the brown argus and green hairstreak butterflies flying around.
Goblin Combe Environment Centre
The Goblin Combe Environment Centre is a special place for learning. It's a charity (No 1099543) that offers educational programs. They also have places for groups to stay overnight.
The center is located within the large woodlands at the start of Goblin Combe. Its main goal is to teach people of all ages about the environment. They use the woods as a "classroom without walls." This helps people learn about nature in a fun and active way.
