Ladcastle & Den Quarries

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.5504, -2.0094

Open in the interactive map →

Also within

Greater Manchester County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SD994059 — Favourable 2.73 2011-07-01

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Sandstone

Description

Description These quarries exhibit a complex pattern of channel sedimentation and erosion, with the relationships between the two well displayed. A variety of sedimentary facies are present in the quarry, including large scale cross bedded sandstones, the channel filling nature of which is clearly visible. As a result of studies at this locality, the large scale cross bedded units have been interpreted as resulting from large scale bedform migration. A key sedimentological site. In layman’s terms, the interest of this 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 rock faces and outcrops within this site provide excellent exposures of a sequence of thick sandstone layers formed about 320 million years ago during the Carboniferous Period of geological history. The rocks accumulated as sand deposited on a large delta built by a major river flowing southwards from uplands in Scotland. The sand layers are complex in form since they were-deposited in a network of interconnecting braided channels on the delta surface. Detailed studies of these forms have made important contributions to our understanding of the environment of this part of Britain during part of the Carboniferous Period and of the mode of formation of ancient river deltas.

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