Sunbiggin Tarn facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Cumbria |
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| Coordinates | 54°27′48″N 2°30′10″W / 54.4634°N 2.5029°W |
| Interest | Biological/Geological |
| Area | 3.86 square miles (1,000.435 ha) for the full SSSI |
| Notification | 30 November 1994 |
| Location map | Magic Map (Defra) |
Sunbiggin Tarn is a beautiful lake located near a village called Sunbiggin in Cumbria, England. It's part of a special protected area known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This SSSI doesn't just include the tarn itself, but also the wild moorland and unique limestone pavement rock formations nearby, like Little Asby Scar. These areas are protected because they are home to rare plants, animals, and interesting geological features.
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What is a Site of Special Scientific Interest?
A Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI, is a special area in the United Kingdom. It is protected by law because it has important wildlife, plants, or geological features. These sites are like nature's treasures, helping to keep our natural world healthy. Sunbiggin Tarn and the surrounding areas became an SSSI on November 30, 1994.
Plants of Sunbiggin Tarn and Moors
The Sunbiggin Tarn SSSI is home to many different types of plants. These plants grow in various habitats, from wet areas to dry grasslands and heathlands.
Grassland Plants
You can find several types of grasses and small plants in the open grassland areas:
- Common bent (Agrostis capillaris): A common grass found in many places.
- Mother of thyme (Thymus praecox): A small, creeping plant with tiny purple flowers. It smells like thyme.
- Sheep fescue (Festuca ovina): A tough grass that can grow in poor soils.
- Sesleria albicans and Galium sterneri: These are also types of grasses and small plants that thrive in these specific grassland conditions.
Heathland Plants
The heathland areas are covered with plants that like acidic, open ground:
- Heather (Calluna vulgaris): A well-known plant with small purple flowers that covers large areas.
- Bell heather (Erica cinerea): Another type of heather with bell-shaped flowers.
- Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus): A small shrub that produces tasty, dark berries.
Wet Heath and Swamp Plants
In the wetter parts of the SSSI, you'll find plants adapted to damp conditions:
- Deergrass (Trichophorum cespitosum): A grass-like plant that grows in boggy areas.
- Cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix): A heather with pink, bell-shaped flowers that grows in wet places.
- Great fen-sedge (Cladium mariscus): A tall, strong plant that forms dense beds in swamps.
- Water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile): A plant with hollow stems that grows in water.
- Bottle sedge (Carex rostrata): A type of sedge that grows in wet, marshy ground.
- Marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris): A plant with reddish-purple flowers that grows in bogs.
- Common reed (Phragmites australis): A tall reed that forms large beds in wetlands.
Animals of Sunbiggin Tarn and Moors
The SSSI is a great place for many animals, especially birds and snails. The tarn and surrounding wetlands provide perfect habitats.
Bird Life
Many different birds visit or live at Sunbiggin Tarn:
- Black-headed gull: A common gull, often seen near water.
- Gadwall: A type of duck that feeds on plants in the water.
- Little grebe: A small diving bird that hunts fish and insects.
- Osprey: A large bird of prey that specializes in catching fish.
- Starling: A common bird known for its noisy flocks.
- Water rail: A shy bird that lives in dense reeds and marshes.
- Wigeon: A type of duck that eats grass and water plants.
Other Interesting Animals
- Geyer's whorl snail: This is a very tiny and rare snail. It's so small you might need a magnifying glass to see it! Its presence shows how healthy the wetland environment is.
Geology of the Area
The rocks and landscape around Sunbiggin Tarn are very old and have interesting features.
Dinantian Rocks
The rocks in this area were formed during a time called the Dinantian period. This was part of the Carboniferous period, about 359 to 323 million years ago. During this time, much of Britain was covered by warm, shallow seas. This is why you find a lot of limestone here, which formed from the shells and skeletons of ancient sea creatures.
Karst Landscape
The area also shows features of a Karst landscape. A Karst landscape forms when soluble rocks, like limestone, are dissolved by water. This creates unique features such as:
- Limestone pavement: Flat areas of rock with deep cracks, like the Little Asby Scar.
- Sinkholes: Holes in the ground where water drains away.
- Underground caves and rivers: Water can carve out tunnels beneath the surface.
These features make the landscape around Sunbiggin Tarn very special and interesting to explore.
