Wateringbury SSSI facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Kent |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 0.2 hectares (0.49 acres) |
| Notification | 1996 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Wateringbury SSSI is a special place in Kent, England. It's a small area, about the size of half a football field. SSSI stands for Site of Special Scientific Interest. This means it's protected because it has important natural features. Wateringbury SSSI is important for its geology, which is the study of Earth's rocks and history. It is located west of Maidstone.
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What is Wateringbury SSSI?
Wateringbury SSSI is a protected area because of its unique geological features. It's officially recognized as a Geological Conservation Review site. This means scientists have studied it and found it very important for understanding Earth's past. The site helps us learn about how the land changed over thousands of years.
A Look at Ancient Life
This site contains something called tufa. Tufa is a type of rock formed when minerals build up from water. At Wateringbury, the tufa holds a complete record of ancient molluscs. Molluscs are creatures like snails and slugs. These tiny fossils tell us a lot about the environment long ago.
The mollusc fossils found here are mostly from land snails. They date back to the early Holocene period. This period started right after the last major ice age ended. By studying these fossils, scientists can see exactly which types of snails lived here and when. It shows how different species moved into the area after the ice melted.
Clues from the Past: The Ice Age
The fossils at Wateringbury SSSI provide a full record of how species returned to the area. This happened after the end of the last ice age. This cold period is known as the Younger Dryas. It was a time when temperatures dropped sharply across many parts of the world.
When the Younger Dryas ended, the climate became warmer. This allowed plants and animals to spread again. The mollusc fossils at Wateringbury show the order in which these species colonized the land. It's like a timeline of life returning after a very cold winter.
Visiting the Site
It's important to know that Wateringbury SSSI is on private land. This means there is no public access for visitors. Unfortunately, the site has also been filled in over time. Because of this, you can no longer see the geological features that made it so special. Even though it's not visible today, the scientific records from the site are still very valuable.
