Gowerdale Windy Pits/Peak Scar

Also within

North Yorkshire County NORTH YORK MOORS National Park

Condition (Natural England)

Climate exposure

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

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic

Landscape processes: Coastal

Description

Area, 4.7 hectares 11.61 ac Description The site known as Gowerdale Windy Pits and Peak Scar includes features of both geological and biological interest, the former interest being concentrated at Peak Scar. Peak Scar is a 30 metres high cliff in horizontally bedded Lower Calcareous Grit Corallian, Upper Jurassic on the south side of Gowerdale. Below the cliff and separated from it by a deep trench, is a prominent ridge, also of Lower Calcareous Grit, with pronounced downslope dips. Rotation has clearly taken place about some sub surface hinge point, possibly in underlying Oxford Clay. The sequence of slope forms is the best British example of 'toppling failure' developed in large individual rock units. The land movements described above have resulted in the development of a complex of cavesor 'Windy Pits'. Although only those associated with Peak Scar are identified on grounds of geological importance, both they and other Windy Pits in Gowerdale, support a nationally significant roost for bats. Seven species of bat have been recorded including whiskered Myotis mystacinus, Daubenton's M. daubentoni, Natterer's M. nattereri and brown long eared Plecotus auritus. Gowerdale Windy Pits, together with the nearby Ryedale Windy Pits, collectively represent a most important series of hibernation roosts, quite isolated from other such roosts in northern England, for these and other species of bat which probably gather from a wide area.

Species mentioned