Slade Brook

51°44′49″N 2°37′56″W / 51.746945°N 2.632207°W / 51.746945; -2.632207InterestBiological/GeologicalArea3.63 hectareNotification2003Natural England website

Slade Brook (grid reference SO564055) is a 3.63-hectare (9.0-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 2003.^[1]^[2]

Location and habitat

The site, which includes an active tufa-forming stream, is in the Forest of Dean plateau and Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The stream system has a series of tufa dams, plunge pools and connecting stream sections. This results from a combination of physical and chemical processes.^[1]

The Slade Brook rises on the Carboniferous Limestone of the Forest of Dean. It flows for two kilometres before joining the River Wye, which is also notified as an SSSI. Approximately a kilometre section of the stream includes the main focus of tufa deposition.^[1]

Rainwater (which percolates into sinkholes in the limestone), is enriched with dissolved calcium carbonate. When emerging from springs along the brook, the removal of carbon dioxide causes precipitation of calcium carbonate. The main deposits of the calcium carbonate are at a series of dam-like structures, which are constructed of tufa.^[1]

The process is assisted by vegetation (which includes tree litter such as twigs and branches), algae and mosses. The flow of the stream is slowed and photosynthesis encourages the removal of the carbon dioxide. The vegetation and debris then become the area for tufa accumulation.^[1]

The site is significant as tufa dams actively forming are relatively rare and this site has approximately sixty. They enable research into the origins of fossil tufa dams as well as modern formations^[1]

Invertebrates

The white-letter hairstreak butterfly is recorded at this site.^[3]

Conservation

Natural England reports in March 2009 that the site remains in a favourable active condition.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Natural England SSSI information on the citation
^ Forest of Dean District Local Plan Review, adopted November 2005, Appendix D 'Nature Conservation Site Designations Within the Forest of Dean District', Sites of Special Scientific Interest
^ Where to see Wildlife in the Forest of Dean', January 2012, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
^ Natural England SSSI information on the Slade Brook unit

SSSI Source

Natural England SSSI information on the citation
Natural England SSSI information on the Slade Brook unit

External links

Natural England (SSSI information)

Biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire

Summarised data for all sites (biological and geological)

Neighbouring areas: Avon; Herefordshire; Oxfordshire; Wiltshire; Worcestershire

v t e Geological Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire
Summarised data for all sites (biological and geological)
Alderton Hill Quarry Bull Cross, The Frith and Juniper Hill Campden Tunnel Gravel Pit Cleeve Common Coaley Wood Quarries Crickley Hill and Barrow Wake Easter Park Farm Quarry Edgehills Quarry Foss Cross Quarry Garden Cliff Hampen Railway Cutting Haresfield Beacon Harford Railway Cutting Hobbs Quarry Hornsleasow Quarry Huntsman's Quarry Jackdaw Quarry Kemble Railway Cuttings Knap House Quarry, Birdlip Land Grove Quarry, Mitcheldean Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common Longhope Hill Lower Woods Lower Wye Gorge Lydney Cliff May Hill Meezy Hurst Minchinhampton Common New Park Quarry Nibley Knoll Notgrove Railway Cutting Oakenhill Railway Cutting Puddlebrook Quarry River Wye Robin's Wood Hill Quarry Rodborough Common Salmonsbury Meadows Scully Grove Quarry Severn Estuary Slade Brook Stenders Quarry Stony Furlong Railway Cutting Swift's Hill Upper Severn Estuary The Malvern Hills Purton Passage Selsley Common Upper Wye Gorge Veizey's Quarry Wainlode Cliff Wellacre Quarry Wood Green Quarry & Railway Cutting Wotton Hill
Neighbouring areas Avon Herefordshire Oxfordshire Wiltshire Worcestershire