Beer Quarry and Caves

Also within

Devon County East Devon Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Beer Quarry and Caves SSSI Description This site is important for its population of hibernating bats. Eight species are present some of which are very rare. There are also important geological features on the face of the working quarry. The southern part of the site comprises an extensive series of caves which have been formed by many years of mining for Beer Stone. Regular recording began in 1951 and in recent years there have been approximately 70--80 individuals of an unusually wide range of bat species. These include the very rare Bechstein's bat Myotis bechsteinii and the greater and lesser horseshoe bats Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Rhinolophus hipposideros. Other species present are Brandt's bat M. brandti, Daubenton's bat M. daubentoni, Natterer's bat M. nattereri, brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus and whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus. The northern part of the site is an actively worked quarry and the old tunnels there are also used by bats. Beer Quarry provides one of the best exposures of a suite of clay-filled chalk pipes in southern England. Such features are important for interpreting solutional processes operating in chalk landscapes but are rarely seen in section.

Species mentioned