Corton Cliffs
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM546967 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 5.54 | 2024-03-11 |
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
Geological Period: Quaternary
Landscape processes: Coastal, Glacial
Description
Description The cliff at Corton is geologically important because it is the type locality for the Anglian Cold Stage during which occurred the most extensive Pleistocene glaciation of the British Isles. The cliffs expose a clear sequence of two tills with non glacial water lain sands between, together with a third till and associated deposits above. The whole Anglian sequence here can be clearly related to the underlying Cromerian freshwater beds. A nationally important Pleistocene site.