Harrow Weald SSSI facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Greater London |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 3.7 hectares |
| Notification | 1987 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Harrow Weald SSSI is a special place in Harrow Weald, London. SSSI stands for Site of Special Scientific Interest. This means it's an important area for nature or geology. Harrow Weald SSSI is special because of its geology, which is the study of Earth's rocks and how they formed. It covers about 3.7 hectares, which is like nine football fields!
Contents
What Makes Harrow Weald SSSI Special?
This site is very important for understanding Earth's past. It has some of the best examples of ancient gravel beds. These gravel beds are layers of small rocks and pebbles that were laid down a very long time ago.
Uncovering Ancient Layers
The gravel beds at Harrow Weald are found above something called the London Clay. Think of the London Clay as a huge, thick layer of clay that lies beneath much of London. The gravel beds here are on top of the Claygate Beds, which is the youngest part of the London Clay.
A Glimpse into the Pleistocene Epoch
These gravel beds were formed during the Pleistocene epoch. This was a time in Earth's history that started about 2.6 million years ago and ended about 11,700 years ago. It's often called the "Ice Age" because huge ice sheets covered much of the Earth. Scientists used to think these gravel beds were formed by the sea. However, new research suggests they might have been formed in a different way. This makes Harrow Weald SSSI a key place for scientists to study and learn more about our planet's history.
Visiting Harrow Weald SSSI
While you can't walk directly into the site, you can still see it! You can view this interesting geological area from Common Road and Harrow Weald Common. It's a great spot to imagine what London was like millions of years ago.
