Pus Gill

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.6276, -2.4653

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
NY700259 Favourable 2.42 2020-01-17

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine

Birds & fish recorded

Fish

SpeciesSeason
Pike Passage

Description

Area, 2.3 ha5.7 ac Description Pus Gill forms a deep, densely wooded ravine at the base of Dufton Pike. The stream running through Gus Gill and the village of Dufton forms part of the River Eden catchment and the stream sides are of geological importance as they represent the type section of the Pusgillian stage, the lowest stage of the Ashgill series of modern usage. The stream section contains the type section of the “Corona Beds” and has yielded type material of both brachiopods and trilobites. Rocks of Onnian and Lower Longvillian age are also represented in this fossiliferous section, the most extensive Pusgillian section in the north of England and thus a key National reference section.

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