Harefield Pit facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| Area of Search | Greater London |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 1.8 hectares |
| Notification | 1990 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Harefield Pit is a special natural area in Harefield, London. It's about 1.8 hectares big, which is like three football fields. This site is very important for understanding the Earth's history.
Contents
What is Harefield Pit?
Harefield Pit is a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a place protected by law because of its unique rocks and landforms. It used to be a chalk quarry, where people dug out chalk. Now, much of it is filled in. Scientists have studied this site a lot. It's listed twice in the Geological Conservation Review database, which tracks important geological spots in Britain.
A Look at Ancient Rocks
This site is a key place to study the Tertiary period, an ancient time in Earth's history. It's part of the London Basin, a large bowl-shaped area of rock layers under London. At Harefield Pit, you can see different layers of rock. These include the Upper Chalk, the Reading Beds, and the London Clay. Each layer tells a story about what the environment was like millions of years ago.
What are Charophytes?
Harefield Pit is special because it's the only place known to have charophytes in the Reading Beds. Charophytes are a type of ancient freshwater algae. Finding them here helps scientists connect this site to other places in Europe. It's like finding a missing puzzle piece that helps complete a bigger picture of Earth's past.
Why is it Important?
The different rock layers at Harefield Pit show how the environment changed over time. From ancient seas (Chalk) to rivers and swamps (Reading Beds), and then to a warmer, wetter climate (London Clay). These layers help scientists understand how the land and life evolved.
Protecting Harefield Pit
Natural England is an organization that looks after England's natural environment. They have said that Harefield Pit is in an "unfavourable declining" state. This means the site is not as healthy as it should be. The problem is that plants and trees are growing over the important Reading Beds. This makes it hard for scientists to see and study these rock layers. Harefield Pit is located behind Lovett Road and is not open to the public.
