Westbury Brook Ironstone Mine facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| Area of Search | Gloucestershire |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°50′51″N 2°29′29″W / 51.847419°N 2.491348°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 15.69 hectare |
| Notification | 1998 |
Westbury Brook Ironstone Mine is a special place in Gloucestershire, England. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its important nature. This mine covers about 15.69 hectares. It was officially recognized as an SSSI in 1998.
Contents
A Special Home for Bats
Westbury Brook Ironstone Mine is one of several important SSSIs in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. These areas are very important for bats, especially the Lesser horseshoe bat and Greater horseshoe bat. They provide safe places for bats to live and raise their young. This whole area is considered very important for bats across Europe.
Why Bats Love This Area
The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley have lots of deciduous woodlands. These forests and sheltered valleys are perfect hunting grounds for bats. They can find plenty of insects to eat here. The old mines and underground tunnels are also very important. They give bats safe places to rest, hibernate, and have their babies.
Protecting the Bats
The Westbury Brook Ironstone Mine is a known place where both Lesser and Greater Horseshoe bats hibernate. To keep the bats safe, the entrances to the mine are protected. They have gates and grills to stop people from disturbing the bats. This helps the bats stay safe and undisturbed during their important hibernation period.
Other Nearby Bat Havens
There are other SSSIs nearby that also help these bats. Some are breeding sites, like Blaisdon Hall and Sylvan House Barn. Others are hibernation sites, such as Buckshraft Mine & Bradley Hill Railway Tunnel and Wigpool Ironstone Mine. All these sites work together to protect these amazing creatures.
Overlapping Interests
Interestingly, the underground parts of Westbury Brook Ironstone Mine overlap with another SSSI called Edgehills Quarry. Edgehills Quarry is special because of its unique geology, which means its rocks and landforms are very important. So, these two sites protect different but equally important natural features.
