Thorpe Park No 1 Gravel Pit facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Surrey |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 42.5 hectares (105 acres) |
| Notification | 1999 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Thorpe Park No 1 Gravel Pit is a special natural area in Surrey, England. It covers about 42.5 hectares (105 acres) and is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a very important place for wildlife. You can find this area just east of Virginia Water, and it's actually part of the famous Thorpe Park theme park!
Contents
Why is Thorpe Park Gravel Pit Special? (Its Wildlife)
This area used to be a place where people dug up gravel. Now, it's a protected site because it's super important for certain birds, especially in winter.
Home for Winter Birds
The main reason this site is so special is because many gadwall ducks come here in the winter. These ducks are not found widely in other inland parts of England. This makes Thorpe Park Gravel Pit a nationally important spot for them.
Besides gadwalls, other types of wildfowl also spend their winters here. These include beautiful birds like goldeneyes and smew. It's like a winter vacation spot for these feathered friends!
A Look Back in Time (History)
The land where Thorpe Park now stands has an interesting past.
From Gravel Pit to Theme Park
Back in the 1930s, a company called RMC Group started digging up sand and gravel here. They used these materials for building things like roads and houses. These big holes in the ground were called gravel pits.
In the 1970s, the company decided to change the area. They intentionally filled the gravel pits with water. This created the lakes and water features you see today. The whole site was then changed to be used for fun activities, which eventually led to the creation of the Thorpe Park theme park.
Protecting the Birds Today
Even though the area is now used for recreation, it's still important to protect the wildlife. In 2003, a report suggested that some activities at the site might have caused fewer gadwall ducks to visit.
One popular activity here is waterskiing. To make sure the birds are safe and have enough food, waterskiing is not allowed during the winter months. This ban lasts from October 1st to March 31st. This is the time when the gadwall ducks are using the site for feeding and resting. During other times of the year, the number of people waterskiing is limited to help protect the environment.
