Dry Sandford Pit Explained

Dry Sandford Pit
Aos:Oxfordshire
Interest:Biological
Geological
Area:4.2ha
Notifydate:1986
Map: Magic Map

Dry Sandford Pit is a 4.2abbr=offNaNabbr=off biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest north-west of Abingdon-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.[1] [2] It is a Geological Conservation Review site[3] and it is managed as a nature reserve by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.[4]

This former sand quarry exposes a sequence of limestone rocks laid down in shallow coastal waters during the Oxfordian stage of the Jurassic, around 160 million years ago. It has many fossil ammonites. It has diverse calcareous habitats, including fen, grassland, scrub and heath. It is nationally important entomologically, especially for bees and wasps.[5]

References

51.691°N -1.326°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Designated Sites View: Dry Sandford Pit. Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. 23 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Map of Dry Sandford Pit. Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. 23 March 2020.
  3. Web site: Dry Sandford Pit (Oxfordian). Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 26 February 2020.
  4. Web site: Dry Sandford Pit . Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust . 23 March 2020.
  5. Web site: Dry Sandford Pit citation. Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. 23 March 2020.