Horseshoe Bend, Shirehampton

Infobox SSSI

Location map|Bristol|width=220|marksize=12|lat=51.487362|long=-2.658985|float=center|border=#999
name=Horseshoe Bend, Shirehampton
aos=Avon
interest=Biological
gridref=ST542767
area=4.45 hectare
notifydate=1999

http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?
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Horseshoe Bend, Shirehampton (gbmapping|ST542767) is a 4.45 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the north bank of a lower, tidal stretch of the River Avon, 3 kilometres downstream from the Avon Gorge, and just east of the village of Shirehampton. It was notified as an SSSI in 1999.

ite Description

The site consists of a wooded cliff and a narrow saltmarsh. The underlying rocks are Devonian sandstone and Carboniferous limestone, overlain by with Triassic Dolomitic conglomerate.

Biological Interest

Wooded cliff

The site's principal interest and the reason for its designation as an SSSI is the presence of a population of the True Service-tree ("Sorbus domestica") growing on the cliffs. This tree is nationally rare in Britain, and this site hosts the largest known population in England. Other notable species of "Sorbus" here are the whitebeams "Sorbus eminens" and "Sorbus anglica", both of which are also nationally rare in Britain. The nationally scarce Large-leaved Lime ("Tilia platyphyllos") also occurs, and herbs include Field Garlic ("Allium oleraceum") and Pale St. John's-wort ("Hypericum montanum").

altmarsh plants

The saltmarsh vegetation, which lies at the base of the cliff, is predominantly made up of Sea Aster ("Aster tripolium") and English Scurvygrass ("Cochlearia anglica"). There are however two nationally scarce vascular plant species here as well - Slender Hare's-ear ("Bupleurum tenuissimum") and Long-stalked Orache ("Atriplex longipes").

References

* [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/2000327.pdf English Nature citation sheet for the site] (accessed 13 July 2006)

External links

* [http://www.english-nature.org.uk English Nature] (SSSI information)
* [http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=51.487443~-2.662989&style=h&lvl=16&scene=4245034 Aerial photo at Windows Live Local]