Bickley Wood
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST641704 | — | Favourable | 7.11 | 2012-02-29 |
| ST646701 | — | Favourable | 2.09 | 2012-02-29 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Shale
Description
Area, 9.5 ha. 23.5 ac. Description This is the most extensive exposure of Carboniferous Downend Group strata in the Bristol Coalfield. Cross bedded sandstones are predominant in the section, but there are some shale bands with fossil plants and bivalves, which indicate a late Westphalian C age. They are of interest in that they represent a marked change in conditions with coarser sediment coming into the area, due mainly to the uplift of mountains to the south; a change that can be correlated with similar lithological changes found near the base of the Pennant Measures of South Wales. This is thus an important site for understanding the geological development of southern Britain during the late Carboniferous.