Sea Mere, Hingham facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Norfolk |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 36.3 hectares (90 acres) |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Sea Mere, Hingham is a very special natural area located near the town of Hingham in Norfolk, England. It covers about 36.3 hectares (around 90 acres) and is protected because of its amazing wildlife and plants. This place is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI for short.
Contents
What is Sea Mere?
Sea Mere is famous for its natural, round lake, which is called a "mere." This lake is a type of "kettle hole." A kettle hole forms when a large chunk of ice from a melting glacier gets buried in the ground. As the ice melts, it leaves a big hole that fills with water.
How Old is Sea Mere?
This special mere was formed a very long time ago, about 10,000 years ago. This was during a period called the Holocene period, which is the current geological epoch we live in. The mere itself covers about 20 acres of the site.
What Else is There?
Besides the mere, Sea Mere also has other important habitats. These include areas of fen, which are like wet grasslands, along with grazing marsh and woodland. Each of these areas provides a home for different kinds of plants and animals.
Amazing Plants at Sea Mere
The fen area at Sea Mere is particularly rich in different types of plants. It's like a natural garden with many unique species.
Rare and Beautiful Flora
You can find a wide variety of plants growing here. Some of the interesting ones include:
- Saw sedge: A grass-like plant with saw-toothed edges.
- Marsh pennywort: A small plant that grows in wet, marshy places.
- Yellow loosestrife: A tall plant with bright yellow flowers.
- Yellow iris: A beautiful wetland plant with large, showy yellow blooms.
- Green figwort: A rarer plant that has unique green-brown flowers.
These plants make Sea Mere a very important place for biodiversity, meaning it has a wide range of living things.
Visiting Sea Mere
Sea Mere is a private site, but it does open its doors for special occasions. Groups and schools can arrange visits by appointment to learn about this unique environment. Sometimes, it also opens to the public to help raise money for charity.
