Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Headley Heath
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| Area of Search | Surrey |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological Geological |
| Area | 1,016.4 hectares (2,512 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
The Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment is a very special place in Surrey, west of Reigate. It covers a huge area of about 1,016 hectares (that's over 2,500 acres!). This site is important for both its amazing plants and animals (biological) and its interesting rocks and landforms (geological).
It is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a protected area because of its rare wildlife, plants, or geology. It's also a Special Area of Conservation, which is an even higher level of protection across Europe.
What Makes This Place Special?
This long site stretches for about eight miles along the North Downs. It has many different types of natural areas. You can find large forests and beautiful chalk grasslands here. These different habitats are home to a wide variety of wildlife.
Unique Landforms and Rivers
The Mole Gap area has some very old and interesting landforms. These were shaped over millions of years. For example, there are tall river cliffs where the River Mole flows. The river has been pushed against the valley sides by something called an alluvial fan. An alluvial fan is a fan-shaped pile of sand and gravel. It forms when a stream flows out of a mountain valley onto a flatter plain.
Protected Areas for Nature
Because this area is so important, it has several special protections. It is a Geological Conservation Review site. This means its geological features are recognized as being very important for science. Part of the site is also a Nature Conservation Review site, which means it's a top-grade area for nature.
Two smaller nature reserves are found within this larger site. These are called Dawcombe and Fraser Down. They are managed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust. This trust works hard to protect the animals and plants that live there.
