Shapwick Heath

Infobox SSSI


name=Shapwick Heath
aos=Somerset
interest=Biological
gridref=gbmappingsmall|ST430403
area=394.0 hectare (973.6 acre)
notifydate=1967

http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?
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Shapwick Heath is a 394.0-hectare (973.6 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve [cite web|url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_details.asp?nnr_name=&C=0&Habitat=0&natural_area=&local_team=0&spotlight_reserve=0&X=&NNR_ID=141|title=Shapwick Heath NNR|publisher=Natural England|accessdate=2008-07-04] in Somerset, notified in 1967.

Shapwick Heath, part of the Avalon Marshes in the Somerset Levels Wetlands, and managed as a National Nature Reserve by Natural England, is a former raised bog lying in the basin of the River Brue. The site supports a diverse community of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates. National rarities are the Large Marsh Grasshopper ("Stethophyma grossum") found on Sphagnum moss bogs, the Greater Silver Diving Beetle ("Hydrophilus piceus") and the
Lesser Silver Diving Beetle ("Hydrochara caraboides") which is now confined nationally to the Brue Basin Peat Moors. [cite web | title=Shapwick Heath | work=English Nature | url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000667.pdf | accessdate=2006-08-19]

The adjoining Shapwick Moor has been purchased by the Hawk and Owl Trust as a reserve.

References

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WO7cqmKpIk YouTube video] - pictures and commentary on the Peat Moor visitors centre.
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/image_galleries/shapwick_heath_gallery.shtml BBC Somerset: Shapwick Heath gallery]