Raw Head

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.0877, -2.7354

Open in the interactive map →

Also within

Cheshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SJ508547 — Favourable 13.51 2020-08-28

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Triassic · Rock Type: Conglomerate, Sandstone

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Area, 13.7 ha. 33.9 ac. Description The escarpment between Tower Wood and Droppingstone Well reveals natural exposures in the Wilmslow, Bulkeley Hill and Helsby Sandstone formations of the Sherwood Sandstone Group lower Triassic. The sediments are mainly fluvial, fine grained, red sandstones interpreted as sandy, braided river deposits, but conglomerate beds of the Delamere Pebbly Sandstone Member Helsby Sandstone Formation are prominent in the upper parts of the section and record the transition to more coarse grained braided river deposits. This is therefore an important site for the study of Triassic environments.

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