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Biddenham Pit

Biddenham Pit
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationBedfordshire
Grid referenceTL022503
InterestGeological
Area0.4 hectares
Notification1988
Location mapMagic Map

Biddenham Pit is a gravel pit and Site of Special Scientific Interest[1] (SSSI), 0.41 hectares in size located in Biddenham, Bedfordshire.[2] The pit was notified to Bedford Borough Council and Bedfordshire County Council under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) in 1988,[2] and is also a Geological Conservation Review site.[3] The site is owned by Persimmon Homes and Kier Homes, with management advice given by Natural England.[4]

The pit provides an intact and visually inspectable terrace gravel, both silty and clayey, which has been laid down by the River Great Ouse.[2] Several features of scientific interest have been identified in the deposits - interglacial mollusca and mammalian remains have been found, possible microfossil material as well as evidence of a prolific Paleolithic industry in the lowest layers of the gravel.[2] Its last official inspection by a Natural England staff member found the whole site[5] and more specifically the gravel feature inside it to be in a 'Favourable' condition.[6]

There is access by a footpath from Malcote Close.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "SSSI information". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "Notification to Bedford Borough Council and Bedfordshire County Council regarding the application" (PDF). Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  3. ^ "GCR Site Details - Biddenham Pit (Quaternary of East Anglia)". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  4. ^ a b Whiteley, Martin (February 2011). "Geology on your doorstep" (PDF). Bedford Geology Group Newsletter - Winter 2010/2011. Bedfordshire Geology Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  5. ^ "SSSI condition summary". Natural England. 1 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Condition of SSSI units". Natural England. 1 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.


52°08′31″N 0°30′25″W / 52.142°N 0.507°W / 52.142; -0.507