Stone Farm Rocks facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | West Sussex |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 0.6 hectares (1.5 acres) |
| Notification | 1990 |
| Location map | [ Magic Map] |
Stone Farm Rocks, also known as Stone Hill Rocks, is a special natural area in West Sussex, England. It's about 0.6 hectares (1.5 acres) big. This site is important because of its unique rocks and how they were formed.
It's officially called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means the area is protected because it has rare wildlife, plants, or interesting geology. Stone Farm Rocks is special for its geology, which is the study of Earth's rocks and how they change over time.
Contents
What Makes These Rocks Special?
Stone Farm Rocks is a great example of sandstone cliffs found in mid-Sussex. These cliffs show off a type of rock called the Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation. This rock layer is part of a bigger group called the Wealden Group.
How Old Are These Rocks?
The rocks at Stone Farm Rocks are very old! They formed during a time called the Lower Cretaceous period. This was between 140 and 100 million years ago. Imagine, dinosaurs were walking the Earth when these rocks were forming!
What Can We Learn from Them?
These rocks show many different sedimentary structures. These are patterns and shapes in the rock that tell us how the sand and mud settled long ago. It's like a history book written in stone. Experts from Natural England say this site is very important for studying these ancient rock patterns.
Climbing at Stone Farm Rocks
Since 2001, the British Mountaineering Council has owned Stone Farm Rocks. They manage the site to help people who love to climb. It's a popular spot for climbers, with 74 different climbing routes identified on the rocks.
To help protect the rocks from wear and tear, special metal anchors called bolt belays have been put in place. These are at the top of many climbing routes. They help climbers stay safe and reduce damage to the natural rock.
