Thurlbear Wood and Quarrylands facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Somerset |
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| Coordinates | 50°59′01″N 3°02′29″W / 50.9837°N 3.0413°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 26.7 hectares (0.267 km2; 0.103 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1963 |
Thurlbear Wood and Quarrylands is a special natural area in Somerset, England. It covers about 26.7 hectares, which is like 65 football fields! This place is so important for nature that it's been named a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) since 1963. This means it's protected because it has rare plants, animals, or unique geology.
Thurlbear Wood is a very old forest with many different kinds of trees and plants. It used to be managed in a traditional way called 'coppice-with-standards'. This method helps the forest stay healthy and diverse. The 'quarrylands' part of the area used to be a place where limestone was dug up in the 1800s. Now, it's a grassy area with lots of interesting plants. The Somerset Wildlife Trust helps look after this amazing place.
Contents
What Makes Thurlbear Wood Special?
Thurlbear Wood is known for having a huge variety of living things. It's built on soil that comes from special rocks called Rhaetic shales and limestones. This type of soil helps many different plants grow.
A Very Old Forest
This wood has a long history. People believe it has been a forest for hundreds of years, possibly since the Middle Ages. You can even see old earth banks, called 'embankments', that were built a long time ago. Some plants here are usually only found in very old, untouched forests. This shows just how ancient and important Thurlbear Wood is. For over 60 years, scientists and students have used the wood to study nature and learn more about its history.
The Amazing Wildlife
Thurlbear Wood and Quarrylands is a fantastic home for many animals, especially butterflies and birds.
Butterflies Galore
The 'quarrylands' area is a grassland with lots of limestone in the soil. This makes it perfect for over 80 different types of flowering plants. These plants attract an incredible number of butterflies. In fact, 29 different species of butterflies have been seen here! Imagine how colorful and lively it must be when they are all flying around.
Birds and Their Homes
Many birds also love to live and raise their families in Thurlbear Wood. Some of the special birds you might find here include:
- Buzzard (Buteo buteo): A large bird of prey often seen soaring high in the sky.
- Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos): Famous for its beautiful and complex songs, especially at night.
- Grasshopper warbler (Locustella naevia): A small bird known for its unique song that sounds like a grasshopper.
These birds find the perfect shelter and food in the wood and quarrylands, making it a vital place for them to thrive.
