Cherry Hinton Pit Explained

Cherry Hinton Pit
Aos:	Cambridgeshire
Interest:	Biological
Area:	12.8 hectares
Notifydate:	1986
Map:	Magic Map

Cherry Hinton Pit is a 12.8hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the south-eastern outskirts of Cambridge. The site consists of East Pit and most of the smaller West Pit (excluding a caravan park in the centre).^{[1] [2]} East Pit is part of the Limekiln Close and East Pit Local Nature Reserve,^[3] which is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire under the name Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits.^[4] West Pit is a separate Local Nature Reserve (LNR).^[5]

These former chalk quarries have a variety of habitats, including grassland and woodland with ash trees, field maple and cherries. The site was designated an SSSI because it has four rare plants, three of which are listed in the British Red List of Threatened Species. These are great pignut, moon carrot and grape hyacinth.^[6]

Archaeologists have discovered human bones, Roman and Iron Age pottery fragments, and the remains of an Iron Age ditch on the site.^[7] The ditch is often referred to as the 'War Ditches' and believed to be part of a hill fort.^{[8] [9]}

There is access from Limekiln Road, which goes between the two pits.

References

52.179°N 0.168°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Designated Sites View: Cherry Hinton Pit . Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. 30 November 2016.
2. Web site: Map of Cherry Hinton Pit. Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. 30 November 2016.
3. Web site: Limekiln Close and East Pit local nature reserve. Cambridge City Council. 15 January 2017.
4. Web site: Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits . Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire . 30 November 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161224160137/http://www.wildlifebcn.org/reserves/cherry-hinton# . 2016-12-24 . dead .
5. Web site: West Pit local nature reserve. Cambridge City Council. 15 January 2017.
6. Web site: Cherry Hinton Pit citation. Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. 30 November 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043220/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000331.pdf. 4 March 2016.
7. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/8108634.stm Artefacts found at nature reserve
8. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18806 British History Online : Cherry Hinton
9. Web site: Iron Age forts in Cambridgeshire . 23 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100414071249/http://www.sheshen-eceni.co.uk/wandle_bury.html# . 14 April 2010 . dead . dmy-all .