Buildwas Sand Quarry

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.6341, -2.5266

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Also within

Shropshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SJ644041 — Favourable 0.14 2015-08-25
SJ646041 — Favourable 0.14 2015-08-25

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine

Landscape processes: Fluvial, Glacial

Description

Description Buildwas is important in the context of the palaeohydrology of the River Severn. The site is located in the area of the most extensively preserved alluvial terrace deposits of the Severn and includes the lower suite of terraces and the flood plain terrace. The terraces have been related to the glacial chronology, but it is clear that the controls on terrace development have been complex, particularly during the Late Devensian and the Devensian Late glacial. Thus the Devensian terraces have been associated with the discharge through the Ironbridge gorge of glacial lake waters concurrent with base level induced alluviation in the lower reaches. The combination of morphological and sedimentary evidence makes Buildwas a key locality for palaeohydrology.

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