Seatoller Wood, Sourmilk Gill & Seathwaite Graphite Mine

Seatoller Wood, Sourmilk Gill & Seathwaite Graphite Mine

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location within Cumbria
Location	Cumbria
Grid reference	NY235128
Coordinates	54°30′29″N3°10′48″W / 54.508°N 3.180°W / 54.508; -3.180
Area	335.0 acres (1.4 km2; 0.52 sq mi)
Notification	1984

Seatoller Wood, Sourmilk Gill & Seathwaite Graphite Mine is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) ^{[1] [2]} within Lake District National Park on the slopes above Seathwaite in Borrowdale, the valley of the River Derwent. The woodland is exceptional because of the lichen and liverwort species found there and the Red Squirrels that live there.

Biology

Tree species in Seatoller Wood include sessile oak, ash and wych elm. More than 180 species of lichens have been found in this wood including Lobaria pulmonaria, Hypotrachyna laevigata and species from the genera Arthothelium, Bacidia, Leptogium and Lopadium (Arthothelium orbilliferum , Sticta canariensis , Leptogium burgessii and Lopadium pezizoideum ). Liverwort species are from the genera Radula and Adelanthus. Moss species include Hylocomium umbratum and Leucobryum juniperoideum. Wilson's filmy fern has also been recorded here. ^[1]

Geology

Rock outcrops are from the Borrowdale Volcanic Group from the Ordovician period and show evidence of how volcanic rocks have been transported by streams. Seathwaite Graphite Mine is an important site for understanding mineralisation of graphite. ^[1]

Land ownership

All the land within Seatoller Wood, Sourmilk Gill & Seathwaite Graphite Mine SSSI is owned by the National Trust. ^[3]

References

1. "SSSI detail". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
2. "Protected Planet | Seatoller Wood, Sourmilk Gill & Seathwaite Graphite Mine". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
3. "Mapping the habitats of England's ten largest institutional landowners". Who owns England?. 2020-10-06. Retrieved 2024-12-30.