Brown's Folly

Infobox SSSI


name=Brown's Folly
aos=Avon
interest=Geological and Biological
gridref=ST793662
area=39.9 hectare
notifydate=1974

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Brown's Folly (gbmapping|ST793662) is a 39.9 hectare biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) near the village of Bathford in Bath and North East Somerset, notified in 1974. It is operated as a nature reserve by the Avon Wildlife Trust.

Brown's folly is situated on steep west facing slopes which overlook the River Avon. The calcareous soils have developed on Lower Lias clays, Fuller's Earth and Oolitic Limestone strata of Jurassic age.cite web|url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002510.pdf|title=Brown's Folly|work=Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)|publisher=English Nature|accessdate=2008-06-02] The local geology is of major importancein the context of the British Bathonian stratigraphy.

The site includes the remains of quarries used for the extraction of Bath stone. These provide a rich variety of wildlife habitats. Downland flora has covered the spoilheaps where wild thyme, harebell and nine species of orchid – including the rare Fly Orchid can are found.Myles (2000) page 252] Yellow Bird's-nest occurs here. [Myles (2000) page 108] The damp cliff faces support a variety of ferns, fungi and spiders. Pockets of ancient woodland on the lower slopes are home to woodpeckers, and unusual plants such as Bath asparagus.

The old mines are used for roosting by the Greater Horseshoe Bat, [cite web|url=http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/level1/reserves/browns_folly.htm|title=Brown's Folly|work=Reserves|publisher=Avon Wildlife Trust|accessdate=2008-06-02] and five other bat species are present at the site. Boris, the oldest Greater Horseshoe Bat ever recorded in Britain, was discovered at Brown's Folly in January 2000.Fact|date=August 2008 Work to secure grilles on the old mines had reduced disturbance, increasing the number of bat species breeding.

References

Bibliography

* Myles, Sarah (2000) "The Flora of the Bristol Region" ISBN 1-874357-18-8