OR/19/054 Introduction
Gareth Farr1, Jonathan Graham2, Andy Marriott1 & Elliott Hamilton1. 2019. Survey of selected tufa forming sites in Staffordshire, UK. British Geological Survey Internal Report, OR/19/054.
1 British Geological Survey |
Tufa sites are not well described for Staffordshire. Calcareous tufa forming springs, seepages and water courses with the mosses Palustriella commutata, Palustriella falcata qualify as the European habitat ‘H7220 Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion)’. Naturally occurring tufa forming springs and seepages are important wildlife habitats, especially for invertebrates, but remain little known in Britain for invertebrates (Boyce, 2002[1]). Several tufa-forming sites are known to occur within existing Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) but are not directly referenced within the citations. The aim of this survey is to report on a small selection (7) of known tufa sites within Staffordshire determine the presence of H7220 habitat and make recommendations for enhancement. This is not a comprehensive survey of Staffordshire’s tufa forming habitats.
Site | Grid Ref | Flow | Site description & geology | Active Tufa | Palustriella | H7720 |
Stanton Pastures | SK1198 246962 | Springhead | Spring head with tufa dome in open field. Carboniferous Bowland Shale. | Yes | P. falcata | Yes |
Limestone Hill | SK1381 646140 | Seepage | Wooded stream valley (Ordley Brook) with waterfall and adjoining seepages with tufa. Sandstones of the Triassic. Chester Formation. |
Yes | P. commutata | Yes |
Kirksteads Brook | SK0908 056817 | Surface water brook | Lightly wooded brook with series of tufa barrages. Carboniferous Ecton Limestone formation. |
Yes | No | No |
Trickle Ridge | SK0069 248260 | Seepage | Tufa seepage in woodland with large tufa block ‘Trickle Ridge’. Carboniferous Woodhead Hill Rock. |
Yes | P. commutata | Yes |
Emerald Cave | SK0050 748425 | Seepage | Tufa seepage in woodland with localised tufa domes. Carboniferous Woodhead Hill Rock. |
Yes | P. commutata | Yes |
Booth's Wood | SK0008 848546 | Seepage | Wooded seepage with small amounts of tufa. Carboniferous Lower Coal Measures formation. |
Yes | P. commutata | Yes |
The Petrifactions | SJ9209 634761 | Seepage | Wooded valley with shallow waterfalls, steep rock faces with tufa. Triassic Kibblestone member and Mercia. Mudstone Group. |
Yes | P. commutata | Yes |
References
- ↑ BOYCE, D C. 2002. English Nature Research Report Number 452: A review of seepage invertebrates in England.