Barker Scar

Barker Scar

Barker Scar is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) ^{[1] [2]} in Cumbria, England. It is located 3km west of Cark and Holker Hall, and is situated on the eastern bank of the River Leven south of the Old Park Wood Holiday Park. The borders of this protected area are contiguous with the boundaries of Morecombe Bay SSSI, and so is part of a wider area of nature protection. Part of this protected area was previously known as Old Park Wood SSSI. Barker Scar is protected because of the species rich grassland on top of cliffs and also because of the Carboniferous fossils contained within its limestone cliffs.

Biology

Herbaceous plant species within the cliff top grassland include common knapweed, burnet saxifrage, dropwort, restharrow, salad burnet, wild thyme, common rock rose, squinancywort, common centaury, limestone bedstraw, common gromwell, green-winged orchid, and spring cinquefoil. ^[1]

Geology

The site is situated on cliffs of Carboniferous Limestone overlooking the surrounding saltmarsh. ^[1] Fossils recorded in the Carboniferous limestone include brachipods (from the genera: Linoprotonia, Composita , and Megachonetes ), corals (from the genera: Clisiophyllum, Haplolasma, Palaeosmilia , and Siphonodendron ), foraminifera and conodonts ('jawless fish' from the genera: Apatognathus, Ligonodina, Spathognathodus, Neoprioniodus , and Hindeodella ). ^[3]

References

1. "Barker Scar SSSI". Natural England . Designated Sites View. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
2. "Protected Planet | Barker Scar". Protected Planet. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
3. "British Lower Carboniferous Stratigraphy (Geological Conservation Review Series No. 29)". JNCC Resource Hub. Joint Nature Conservation Committee . Retrieved 11 April 2025.

54°11′40″N3°1′22″W / 54.19444°N 3.02278°W / 54.19444; -3.02278