Boulton Moor

Also within

Derbyshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Quaternary

Landscape processes: Fluvial, Glacial, Periglacial

Description

Area, 3.9 ha. 9.6 ac. Description This area is underlain by an important glacial and fluvial sequence, including two different types of till and organic deposits from at least two different temperate intervals. The basal Quaternary deposits comprise a glacial complex filling an E W treading trough excavated in bedrock. Channelled into this are gravels containing a typical Ipswichian last interglacial mammalian fauna including hippopotamus, associated with which are mollusc rich horizon. These channels are truncated by a later gravel sequence containing further organichorizons, probably representing interstadials within the Devensian last glacial Stage. These deposits are capped by a veneer of probable solifluction deposits. The site lies on the surface identified as the Beeston Terrace of the River Trent. The sediments at Boulton Moor have not been studied fully to date, but sufficient information is available to identify this site as one of the most important in the Trent basin. It can provide a crucial link between the glacial and fluvial sequence in this valley and is one of very few sites in the East Midlands which have evidence from temperate periods. The latter are of great importance for the reconstruction of Pleistocene climate and geographical evolution. There is great potential for further research at Boulton Moor. Boulton Moor, Derbyshire This site consists of an area of land underlain by glacial deposits and river gravels. The site boundaries, enclosing the area where these deposits have been found, follow fence lines marking out a roughly rectangular area, about 250 metres long and 150 metres wide. The gravels and glacial deposits date from the 'Ice Ages' or Quaternary period of geological history see diagram below. The deposits arm of special research interest because they record a series of different episodes in the history of the Trent valley. The oldest deposits here are glacial clays, overlain by river gravels of several different ages. The gravelscontain fossil remains of animals such as hippopotamus, which lived in Britain duringwarm intervals within the 'Ice Ages'. This is a site with great potential for future researchinto the climate and environment of the region during the Quaternary 'Ice Ages' and for studying the geographic evolution of the Trent valley.

Plant communities