Pembury Cutting and Pit

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.1486, 0.3048

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (3)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TQ612413 Favourable 0.75 2011-01-04
TQ612414 Favourable 0.66 2011-01-04
TQ614416 Favourable 0.19 2011-01-04

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

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

Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Rock Type: Sandstone

Landscape processes: Coastal, Fluvial

Description

Area, 1.6 ha. 3.93 ac. Description The quarry in Newbars Wood exposes pebbly sandstones, sandstones and siltstone10m of the Ardingly Sandstone Member of the upper Lower Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation upper Hastings Bed Group. Over a lateral distance of 120m, a wealth of sedimentary structures give evidence of flow conditions and directions channel in channel forms, cross bedding, texture, etc, while other erosion surfaces, intraformational conglomerates, contemporary iron pan and upstanding Lycopodites record events in a bigger braid channel, subject to widely varying and episodic flow and exposure. The A21 – Blackhurst Lane cutting exposes a 6.5m stack of two planar cross bedded transverse bar sandstones, each capped by thin cross bedded megatipple sandstones. The two sequences are separated by a persistent clay seam and the lower is crowded with upstanding Lycopodites 1m in life position. The quarry and road cutting sediments are postulated as having been deposited within a yet larger through channel traversing the Lower Tunbridge Wells braid plain, of which the quarry in Robingate Wood may expose the 'normal' succession. The three sequences are to be contrasted with those at the Hastings Pett Level sites, which formed in a more coastal meander plain. The sites are vitally important for interpreting conditions in the proximal northern area of the Hastings Group basin.

Plant communities

A1 — Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Pond ditch and canal

Lemna gibba community

Drepanocladus fluitans, Apium nodiflorum, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Spirodela polyrhiza, Wolffia arrhiza, Callitriche obtusangula, Callitriche stagnalis, Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus sceleratus, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Zannichellia palustris

A2 — Marginal and inundation, Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Pond ditch and canal

Lemna minor community

Riccia fluitans, Ricciocarpos natans, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Apium nodiflorum, Berula erecta, Bidens tripartita, Callitriche brutia ssp. hamulata, Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Callitriche stagnalis, Potamogeton lucens, Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus peltatus

A3 — Marginal and inundation, Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Pond ditch and canal

Spirodela polyrhiza-Hydrocharis morsus-ranae community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Ceratophyllum demersum, Elodea canadensis, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Spirodela polyrhiza, Wolffia arrhiza, Callitriche platycarpa, Polygonum amphibium, Potamogeton crispus, Ranunculus circinatus, Zannichellia palustris, Glyceria fluitans, Azolla filiculoides

A4 — Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal

Hydrocharis morsus-ranae-Stratiotes aloides community

Sparganium emersum, Sparganium erectum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Sagittaria sagittifolia, Berula erecta, Oenanthe aquatica, Sium latifolium, Nasturtium officinale, Ceratophyllum demersum, Ceratophyllum submersum, Myriophyllum verticillatum, Elodea canadensis, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Stratiotes aloides, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nuphar lutea, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Polygonum amphibium, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton obtusifolius, Hottonia palustris, Ranunculus lingua, Comarum palustre, Chara subspinosa

A5 — Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Ceratophyllum demersum community

Sparganium emersum, Sagittaria sagittifolia, Myosotis scorpioides, Nasturtium officinale, Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Elodea nuttallii, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nuphar lutea, Callitriche stagnalis, Potamogeton coloratus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus circinatus, Azolla filiculoides

A7 — Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Nymphaea alba community

Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium minimum, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Nuphar lutea, Nuphar pumila, Nymphaea alba, Hippuris vulgaris, Potamogeton berchtoldii, Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton obtusifolius, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Chara subspinosa, Nitella hyalina

A8 — Marginal and inundation, Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Nuphar lutea community

Eleocharis acicularis, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium emersum, Sparganium minimum, Fontinalis antipyretica, Riccia fluitans, Sagittaria sagittifolia, Apium nodiflorum, Ceratophyllum demersum, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Spirodela polyrhiza, Nuphar lutea, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche hermaphroditica, Callitriche obtusangula, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Hippuris vulgaris, Littorella uniflora, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Potamogeton berchtoldii, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton obtusifolius, Potamogeton pectinatus, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Potamogeton pusillus, Ranunculus circinatus, Ranunculus hederaceus, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Zannichellia palustris, Glyceria declinata, Glyceria fluitans, Glyceria notata, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A10 — Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Polygonum amphibium community

Juncus filiformis, Equisetum fluviatile, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Nuphar lutea, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Polygonum amphibium, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton obtusifolius, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Glyceria fluitans

A11 — Marginal and inundation, Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton pectinatus-Myriophyllum spicatum community

Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium emersum, Fontinalis antipyretica, Luronium natans, Apium inundatum, Oenanthe aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Ceratophyllum demersum, Elatine hydropiper, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Elodea nuttallii, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Stratiotes aloides, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphoides peltata, Nuphar lutea, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche hermaphroditica, Callitriche obtusangula, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Hippuris vulgaris, Littorella uniflora, Polygonum amphibium, Potamogeton alpinus, Potamogeton berchtoldii, Potamogeton compressus, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton friesii, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton lucens, Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton obtusifolius, Potamogeton pectinatus, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Potamogeton praelongus, Potamogeton pusillus, Potamogeton trichoides, Ranunculus baudotii, Ranunculus circinatus, Ranunculus omiophyllus, Ranunculus peltatus, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Ruppia cirrhosa, Zannichellia palustris, Glyceria fluitans, Glyceria notata, Chara spp., Chara subspinosa, Lamprothamnion papulosum, Nitella hyalina

A12 — Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton pectinatus community

Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Elodea nuttallii, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Callitriche stagnalis, Polygonum amphibium, Groenlandia densa, Potamogeton pectinatus, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus peltatus, Ruppia maritima, Zannichellia palustris, Lamprothamnion papulosum

A15 — Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Elodea canadensis community

Sparganium emersum, Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Spirodela polyrhiza, Nuphar lutea, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche stagnalis, Polygonum amphibium, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton lucens, Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton pectinatus, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus circinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans, Glyceria fluitans

A16 — Chalk river and stream, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Callitriche stagnalis community

Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Lemna minor, Callitriche obtusangula, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Potamogeton pectinatus

A20 — Chalk river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Pond ditch and canal

Ranunculus peltatus community

Sparganium erectum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Callitriche platycarpa, Polygonum amphibium, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus circinatus, Ranunculus peltatus, Ranunculus sceleratus, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Glyceria notata

A21 — Pond ditch and canal

Ranunculus baudotii community

Sparganium emersum, Ceratophyllum submersum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Callitriche obtusangula, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Hippuris vulgaris, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus baudotii, Ruppia maritima, Zannichellia palustris, Glyceria fluitans

OV3 — Arable, Open habitat arable weed less fertile acid, Pond ditch and canal

Papaver rhoeas-Viola arvensis community

Bryum erythrocarpum, Phascum cuspidatum, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Anthemis arvensis, Artemisia vulgaris, Cirsium arvense, Eupatorium cannabinum, Matricaria discoidea, Pulicaria dysenterica, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, Taraxacum officianalis, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Anchusa arvensis, Myosotis arvensis, Arabidopsis thaliana, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Descurainia sophia, Sisymbrium officinale, Valerianella locusta, Arenaria leptoclados, Arenaria serpyllifolia, Silene latifolia, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media agg., Chenopodium album, Convolvulus arvensis, Medicago lupulina, Trifolium repens, Vicia sativa, Geranium dissectum, Epilobium hirsutum, Papaver argemone, Papaver dubium, Veronica arvensis, Veronica persica, Veronica triphyllos, Fallopia convolvulus, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex crispus, Anagallis arvensis, Aphanes microcarpa, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola arvensis, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia repens, Poa annua, Poa trivialis, Chara vulgaris

OV28 — Pond ditch and canal

Agrostis stolonifera-Ranunculus repens community

Juncus effusus, Bryum rubens, Dicranella staphylina, Tortula truncata, Cirsium arvense, Filaginella uliginosa, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis scorpioides, Rorippa sylvestris, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex patula, Atriplex prostrata, Chenopodium album, Trifolium repens, Mentha aquatica, Plantago major, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum hydropiper, Anagallis arvensis, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla anserina, Galium palustre, Urtica dioica, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Elytrigia repens, Lolium perenne, Phalaris arundinacea, Poa annua, Poa trivialis

OV29 — Pond ditch and canal

Alopecurus geniculatus_Rorippa palustris community

Carex disticha, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus articulatus, Oenanthe fistulosa, Bidens tripartita, Caltha palustris, Cirsium arvense, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine flexuosa, Cochlearia anglica, Rorippa prostrata, Stellaria media agg., Equisetum fluviatile, Lemna minor, Plantago major, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum hydropiper, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla anserina, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Elytrigia repens, Glyceria fluitans, Lolium perenne, Phalaris arundinacea, Poa annua, Poa trivialis

OV30 — Pond ditch and canal

Bidens tripartita-Polygonum amphibium community

Salix cinerea, Salix fragilis, Solanum dulcamara, Carex vesicaria, Scirpus sylvaticus, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus bufonius, Juncus effusus, Sparganium erectum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Berula erecta, Bidens tripartita, Filaginella uliginosa, Matricaria chamomilla, Myosotis laxa, Stellaria alsine, Chenopodium murale, Calystegia sepium, Trifolium repens, Iris pseudacorus, Mentha arvensis, Lythrum salicaria, Plantago major, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla anserina, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Arrhenatherum elatius, Holcus lanatus, Phalaris arundinacea, Poa trivialis

OV31 — Pond ditch and canal

Rorippa palustris_Filaginella uliginosa community

Eleocharis palustris, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bufonius, Pohlia melanodon, Aphanorrhegma patens, Physcomitrium pyriforme, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Bidens tripartita, Cirsium arvense, Filaginella uliginosa, Rorippa prostrata, Chenopodium rubrum, Mentha aquatica, Lythrum portula, Epilobium obscurum, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Plantago major, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum hydropiper, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla anserina, Limosella aquatica, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea, Poa annua

OV32 — Pond ditch and canal

Myosotis scorpioides-Ranunculus sceleratus community

Carex paniculata, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus bufonius, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Berula erecta, Arctium minus, Bidens cernua, Bidens tripartita, Cirsium arvense, Myosotis scorpioides, Nasturtium officinale, Rorippa islandica, Rorippa sylvestris, Equisetum fluviatile, Trifolium repens, Iris pseudacorus, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Stachys palustris, Lemna gibba, Chamerion angustifolium, Epilobium adenocaulon, Epilobium palustre, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Veronica catenata, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum hydropiper, Rumex hydrolapathum, Rumex obtusifolius, Ranunculus circinatus, Ranunculus peltatus, Ranunculus repens, Ranunculus sceleratus, Potentilla anserina, Agrostis stolonifera, Deschampsia cespitosa, Glyceria declinata, Glyceria maxima, Holcus lanatus, Phalaris arundinacea, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Azolla filiculoides

OV33 — Pond ditch and canal

Polygonum lapathifolium-Poa annua community

Achillea millefolium, Anthemis cotula, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Filaginella uliginosa, Lapsana communis, Matricaria chamomilla, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus asper, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Myosotis arvensis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Raphanus raphanistrum, Sinapis arvensis, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex patula, Atriplex prostrata, Chenopodium album, Sedum anglicum, Equisetum arvense, Euphorbia helioscopia, Medicago lupulina, Trifolium hybridum, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Fumaria officinalis, Galeopsis tetrahit, Plantago major, Veronica persica, Fallopia convolvulus, Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Anagallis arvensis, Ranunculus repens, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola arvensis, Agrostis stolonifera, Avena fatua, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Hordeum vulgare, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Poa trivialis

OV34 — Pond ditch and canal

Allium schoenoprasum-Plantago maritima community

Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Ulex gallii, Carex flacca, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bufonius, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus capitatus, Trichostomum brachydontium, Riccia beyrichiana, Leontodon saxatilis, Herniaria ciliolata, Minuartia verna, Sagina subulata, Sedum anglicum, Centaurium erythraea, Hypericum pulchrum, Thymus praecox, Allium schoenoprasum, Scilla autumnalis, Scilla verna, Pedicularis sylvatica, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago maritima, Polygala vulgaris, Filipendula vulgaris, Galium verum, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis vinealis, Aira caryophyllea, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Koeleria macrantha, Isoetes histrix

OV35 — Pond ditch and canal

Lythrum portula-Ranunculus flammula community

Salix cinerea, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bufonius, Juncus effusus, Bryum klinggraeffii, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Drepanocladus fluitans, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Apium inundatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Filaginella uliginosa, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Rorippa islandica, Mentha aquatica, Lythrum portula, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Polygonum hydropiper, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus hederaceus, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Galium palustre, Limosella aquatica, Agrostis canina, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus aequalis, Alopecurus geniculatus, Poa annua, Pilularia globulifera