Garden Cliff
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO718127 | — | Favourable | 5.34 | 2011-08-09 |
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
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Area, 5.1 ha. 12.6 ac. Description An historic site in 'Rhaetic' studies, first described in detail in 1822. It shows a complete local succession of the Rhaetian, from the Tea Green Maria to the base of the Lower Lias. This is the type locality for the Westbury Bed in which there are several 'bone beds' which are of particular note as are the crustaceans, bivalves and plants of the 'Estheria' Bed of the Cotham Beds. The animal remains and the sedimentary make up of Garden Cliff show appreciable differences from other sections in the region. An important site for comparative studies of the Rhaetic.