Old River Bed, Shrewsbury facts for kids
Old River Bed, Shrewsbury is a special natural area found about two miles north of Shrewsbury town centre in Shropshire, England. It's owned and looked after by the Shrewsbury Town Council. This site is very important because it's a leftover part of the ancient River Severn.
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What is the Old River Bed?
The Old River Bed is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a place that has been officially recognized for its unique plants, animals, or geology. It's protected to make sure these special features are preserved for the future.
A River's Ancient Path
Long, long ago, during the last Ice Age, the River Severn flowed differently. As the ice melted and the landscape changed, a part of the river's path got cut off. This old, abandoned part of the river became what we now call the Old River Bed. It's like a fossilized river channel!
A Home for Special Plants
Today, this old river channel is filled with a special type of wetland called a sedge fen. A fen is a marshy area where water-loving plants, especially sedges, grow thickly. This sedge fen at the Old River Bed is very important because it's a great home for many rare and interesting wetland plants. It works together with other wetland areas in North Shropshire to create a network of important habitats.
Plants You Might Find Here
The Old River Bed is home to many different kinds of wetland plants. These plants love wet, marshy ground. Here are some of the species you can find:
- Lesser pond-sedge (Carex acutiformis)
- Common reed (Phragmites australis)
- Great reedmace (Typha latifolia)
- Water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile)
- Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
- Soft rush (Juncus effusus)
- Sharp-flowered rush (J. acutiflorus)
- Water avens (Geum rivale)
- Bottle sedge (Carex rostrata)
- Brown sedge (C. disticha)
- Marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris)
These plants are all part of the rich ecosystem that makes the Old River Bed such a valuable and protected place.
