Scaynes Hill
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TQ391227 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 0.04 | 2022-03-30 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Rock Outcrop · Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Rock Type: Sandstone
Landscape processes: Fluvial
Description
Description The disused quarry and road section at Scaynes Hill exposes yellow sandstone of the Cuckfield Sandstone Member which lies within the Grinstead Clay Formation upper Hastings Beds Group, Wealden Series. The Cuckfield Sandstone is a lenticular unit of fine grained sandstone which is found throughout much of the outcrop of the Grinstead Clay, dividing the Formation into Lower and Upper Members. The Cuckfield Stone was deposited by a meandering river system and, along the length of its outcrop, displays sedimentary features typical of the Wealden flood plain. At Scaynes Hill the Cuckfield Stone is dominated by trough cross bedding which is characteristic of a meander channel belt. The sedimentary evidence from the Cuckfield Stone at Scaynes Hill is vital in demonstrating the meandering nature of this river lain sandstone and understanding the wider environment of the Wealden Grinstead Clay Formation.
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