Cock Wood Gorge

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.8054, -2.3865

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Also within

Lancashire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SD746344 — Favourable 2.84 2015-04-08

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Geological Period: Carboniferous

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Description Cock Wood Gorge is situated two kilometres south west of the village of Whalley where Sabden Brook cuts down through the rock strata to join the River Calder. The geological interest of this site, in technical terms, may be defined as follows, This site displays an almost continuous section through the upper part of the Kinderscout Gritto the Revidge Grit and is important for its excellent exposure of the intervening sediments and their marine bands. The marine bands are of particular consequence as they illustrate the sub zonation of the late R1 Zone and indicate the position of the Kinderscoutian Marsdenian Stage boundary. The section has also received attention for its variable Sanguionolites fauna which sheds light upon the evolutionary trends of this bivalve. 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 river bed and banks within this site provide excellent exposures of a sequence of rock layers of the Namurian Series, formed about 320 million years ago during the Carboniferous Period of geological history. The rocks consist of shales and sandstones and contain layers rich in the fossil remains of marine animals that inhabited the mid Carboniferous sea. These fossil rich layers are particularly important as they provide a means for geologists to accurately date the rocks and to compare this sequence with rocks of similar age elsewhere in Britain and overseas. In addition some of the fossils are themselves of special interest and have attracted detailed research. This is an important site for geological studies of the Namurian Series.

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