Meezy Hurst

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.7791, -2.5139

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Declining (4)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO638088 Unfavourable Declining 3.8 2022-04-25
SO642086 Unfavourable Declining 3.8 2022-04-25
SO644087 Unfavourable Declining 3.8 2022-04-25
SO646090 Unfavourable Declining 3.8 2022-04-25

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous

Description

Description This sequence of exposures in four locations shows the lower part of the Westphalian succession present in the Forest of Dean. These rocks were laid down during the Upper Carboniferous Period 310 million years ago. The unconformable contact with the underlying older rocks is clearly exposed and a more or less continuous section through the whole of Trenchard Group and lower Pennant Group of the Upper Coal Measures can be seen. This includes the Coleford High Delf, which marks the boundary between the two groups. The site thus provides the best opportunity to see how sedimentation first spread into this area during this part of the Westphalian.