Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
![]() The location - Alderton Hill | |
Location | Gloucestershire |
---|---|
Grid reference | SP006345 |
Coordinates | 52°00′34″N1°59′31″W / 52.009382°N 1.991941°W |
Interest | Geological |
Area | 0.34 hectare |
Notification | 1997 |
Natural England website |
Alderton Hill Quarry (grid reference SP006345 ) is a 0.34-hectare (0.84-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1997. It is a Geological Conservation Review (GCR) site. [1]
The site is located on Alderton Hill to the south west of Dumbleton Wood, approximately 2 kilometres south west of Dumbleton village which is in north Gloucestershire. [1]
The site is a significant location for research because of its well preserved Lower Jurassic insect fauna. There is a range of publications which detail the findings on this site, which include fossil insects. Particular findings are specimens of dragonflies ( Gomphites ) and a large cockroach. Fish remains have been found, and well-preserved cephalopods. [1] The strata exposed are part of the Whitby Mudstone. In April 2024, Swaby et al. published the first comprehensive taxonomic and taphonomic analysis of the entire insect assemblage from Alderton Hill, based on all known museum specimens. Through comparison with the Lower Jurassic insect fauna of Strawberry Bank, Ilminster, Somerset, this study concluded that the Alderton Hill palaeoentomofauna is the best-preserved and most representative insect assemblage from the Toarcian strata of the UK. [2]
The site is located in hedges which are species-rich. They include ash, oak, holly, hawthorn, hazel and spindle. The common blue butterfly is recorded. [1]
Teffont Evias Quarry and Lane Cutting is a 3.6 hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest at Teffont Evias in Wiltshire, England, notified in 1989. It consists of two parts, Teffont Evias Quarry, and Teffont Evias Lane Cutting. Forest trees are currently growing on both sites, but there are small accessible exposures on the sides of quarry and roadway cuttings.
Holwell Quarries is a 1.3-hectare (3.2-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest at Holwell near Nunney on the Mendip Hills in Somerset, notified in 1952.
Wellacre Quarry is a 12.3 hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1974. It is within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the site was formerly known as Blockley Station Brickworks. The site is listed in the 'Cotswold District' Local Plan 2001-2011 as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS) and a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS).
The Whitby Mudstone is a Toarcian geological formation in Yorkshire and Worcestershire, England. The formation, part of the Lias Group, is present in the Cleveland and Worcester Basins and the East Midlands Shelf.
Wotton Hill is a hill on the edge of the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire, England, 0.5 miles (0.80 km) north of Wotton-under-Edge. The Cotswold Way passes over the hill.
Swift's Hill is a 9.15-hectare (22.6-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1966 and renotified in 1984.
Bull Cross, The Frith and Juniper Hill is a 42.33-hectare (104.6-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1954. The site is listed in the ‘Stroud District’ Local Plan, adopted November 2005, Appendix 6 as an SSSI and Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS).
Cleeve Common is a 455-hectare (1,120-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, England, notified in 1974. It is looked after by a small charity called Cleeve Common Trust, formally Cleeve Common Board of Conservators.
Coaley Wood Quarries is a 4.85-hectare (12.0-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1974.
Crickley Hill and Barrow Wake is a 56.8-hectare (140-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1974.
Hornsleasow Quarry is a 3.5-hectare (8.6-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1974. The site is listed in the 'Cotswold District' Local Plan 2001-2011 as a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS).
Huntsman's Quarry is a 1.6-hectare (4.0-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1974. The site is listed in the 'Cotswold District' Local Plan 2001-2011 as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS) and a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS).
Jackdaw Quarry is a 4.78-hectare (11.8-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1985.
Knap House Quarry, Birdlip is a 1.80-hectare (4.4-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1974. The site is listed in the 'Cotswold District' Local Plan 2001-2011 as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS) and a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS).
Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common is a 63.8-hectare (158-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1954. There are five units of assessment.
Minchinhampton Common is a 182.7-hectare (451-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England, notified in 1972.
New Park Quarry is a 1.3-hectare (3.2-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1987. The site is listed in the 'Cotswold District' Local Plan 2001-2011 as a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS).
Robin's Wood Hill Quarry is a 1.67-hectare (4.1-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, on Robinswood Hill, notified in 1966.
Rodborough Common is a 116.0-hectare (287-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Rodborough, Gloucestershire, England, notified in 1954. The site is listed in the ‘Stroud District’ Local Plan, adopted November 2005, Appendix 6 as an SSSI and a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS). The Common is also a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive