Standedge Road Cutting

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.5835, -1.9692

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Also within

Greater Manchester CountyWest Yorkshire County PEAK DISTRICT National Park Pennine Way National Trail

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SE021096 — Unfavourable Declining 3.62 2022-04-25

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Sandstone, Shale

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Description This site provides one of the most complete sections through the Namurian Kinderscout Grit. It displays the upper and lower leaves of the Kinderscout Grit, almost in their entirety, with the Butterly Marine Band intervening. The readily accessible sequence presents an excellent example of deltaic cyclothems, with shales and sandstones capped by seat earths and thin coals. A key section of great sedimentological interest in a thick stratigraphically important sandstone sequence. In layman's terms, the interest of this site may be expressed more simply and such a statement is provided below. This should not be taken as definitive and further information as to details of the interest can be obtained from the Nature Conservancy Council. This road cutting provides important exposures of the Kinderscout Grit which formed during the Carboniferous Period of geological time, about 320 million years ago. The rock sequence consists of thick sandstone layers separated by layers of shale, clay and thin coal seams. The rocks accumulated on a large river delta and contain important layers rich in the fossilised remains of marine animals which accumulated during periods when the delta became flooded by the sea. The rock layers accumulated in a repeated or cyclic sequence characteristic of sediments formed on a river delta. This is an important site for geological study of the Namurian Series and is of special interest as a reference section for comparative purposes.

Plant communities

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

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea