Janny Wood Section
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NY783037 | — | Favourable | 1.05 | 2023-08-17 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Area, 0.8 hectares 1.9 ac. Description Janny Wood Section is situated about eight kilometres south of Kirkby Stephen where the River Eden has cut through the rock to reveal an important exposure. The geological interest of the site, in technical terms, may be defined as follows. This locality has been proposed as the regional boundary stratotype for the Brigantian Stage. In the section the base of the stage is taken at the base of Peghorn Limestone and, coincidentally, at the incoming of a distinct coral brachiopod fauna. Below the stage boundary a substantial section of Asbian carbonates and clastics is well displayed. A key stratigraphic locality of great correlative significance. In layman's terns, the interest of the site may be expressed more simply and such a statement is provided below. This should not be taken as definitive and further information as to details of the interest can be obtained from the Nature Conservancy Council. The bed and banks of the River Eden at Janny Wood provide the best exposures in the region of an important junction between two of the major subdivisions Stages of the Carboniferous Period. This is of great significance for geological study as it allows accurate comparisons to be made between the Carboniferous rock sequence in this area and other parts of the British Isles. The rocks are mainly limestone and shales, themselves of considerable interest and contain a distinctive suite of fossilised remains of the animals that inhabited the Lower Carboniferous sea, about 330 million years ago.
Plant communities
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus 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
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis 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
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula 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
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis 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