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Rock Edge Nature Reserve facts for kids

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Rock Edge Nature Reserve
Rock Edge Nature Reserve - geograph.org.uk - 1580312.jpg
Location Headington, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Established 1972
Rock Edge, Oxford - geograph.org.uk - 13863
Old limestone quarry workings at Rock Edge Nature Reserve. This is near the junction of Old Road and Windmill Road.

Rock Edge Nature Reserve is a cool small park and nature area. It is located in Headington, east Oxford, England. This special place was once a quarry where people dug out limestone.

The rocks here tell an amazing story. They were formed from an old tropical coral reef! You can see parts of the coral sticking out of the ground. These are surrounded by old sand from the seabed. It was much like the waters around Bahamas are today. A small path winds through the old quarry. If you look closely, you might even find fossils of ancient sea creatures!

A Special Place for Nature

The quarry at Rock Edge is very important. It is called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means the area is protected because it has rare wildlife or geology. The whole site covers about 4 acres (1.6 hectares).

This special place has had a few different names over time. It was once known as Crossroads Pit. People also called it Windmill Quarry. This was because it was located just south of the main windmill in Headington. Another name used was Cross Road Quarry.

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