Barry Island
Also within
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous, Triassic · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone, Mudstone
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Description The marginal facies of the Mercia Mudstone Group is seen in a unique unconformable relationship with the Carboniferous Limestone at Barry Island. Several horizontal to sub-horizontal terraces up to 15m wide are cut into the Carboniferous Limestone. These terraces are joined by vertical cliffs up to 5 m high and covered by marginal lacustrine facies of the Mercia Mudstone Group. The terraces are covered by poorly sorted angular breccias, interpreted as fossil screes, and better sorted gravels associated with wave-rippled and desiccated finer sediments which are interpreted as lacustrine short zone (beach) sediments. The locality is unique in showing such a spectacular exposure of marginal Triassic facies.