Whitby-Saltwick
Also within
North Yorkshire County NORTH YORK MOORS National Park Cleveland Way National TrailKing Charles Way - Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge National Trail
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ911112 | — | Favourable | 8.89 | 2022-03-15 |
| NZ911113 | — | Favourable | 31.06 | 2022-03-15 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Sandstone, Shale
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Area, 17.5 hectares 43.3 acres Description On the coast between Whitby and Saltwick three blocks of geological interest have been identified covering vertebrate palaeontology, palaeobotany and Toarcian exposures. This stretch of coast is of international stratigraphic significance for its classic section in the Lower Toarcian; a critical Jurassic exposure forming the type locality for the Whitbian Substage. There are superb exposures in the highly fossiliferous Jet Rock and Alum Shale Series of falciferum and bifrons Zone age. Additionally there are excellent exposures of the unconformable contact of the here attenuated Dogger Formation with the Alum Shales. Many of the best museum specimens of Middle Jurassic plant fossils originated in the cliffs to the south of Whitby. These came from a lens within the filled sandstone channels of the Saltwick Formation. Of the numerous species recorded, particularly noteworthy are the spectacular examples of bennettitalean reproductive organs, such as those of Williamsonia and Weltricha. This is an outstanding site for its superlative plant material and, particularly, their bearing on bennettitalean history. The Upper Lias of the coast east of Whitby, the richest Upper Liassic reptile site in Britain, has yielded many fine specimens of plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs and marine crocodiles, including type specimens of 10 species. The first fossil alligator from Whitby was reported in 1759 and discoveries since then have proved extremely valuable in studies in marine reptiles. The reptiles occur in the Main Alum Shales within the Alum Shale Formation bifrons Zone; commune and fibulatum Subzones. Other Information 1. This is a new site identified as of international importance in the Geological Conservation Review. 2. The site lies within the North Yorkshire Heritage Coast.