Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 | |
| Location | Somerset |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | ST385555 |
| Interest | Biological and Geological |
| Area | 332.2 hectares (820.9 acres) |
| Notification | 1952 |
| Location map | English Nature |
Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill (grid reference ST385555) to (grid reference ST430560) is a 332.2 hectare (820.9 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the villages of Compton Bishop and Webbington in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, notified in 1952.
Crook Peak itself reaches 628 ft (208 m) and is a prominent feature from the surrounding landscape. It is controlled by the National Trust. Evidence of early human occupation includes a polished flint axe.
A ridge 'The Razor' is used by the West Mendip Soaring Association to fly model aircraft in south-westerly / southerly or north-easterly winds.[1]
Etymology
Crook Peak has been important as a landmark and boundary from very early times, and the origins of the name are unclear. Some believe the name 'Crook' comes from Old British 'Cruc' meaning 'peak' or 'pointed hill'.[2][3]
Biological
This site comprises a wide range of habitats which includes ancient and secondary semi-natural broadleaved woodland, unimproved calcareous grassland and a complex mosaic of calcareous grassland and acidic dry dwarf-shrub heath. Four of the calcareous grassland communities, two of the woodland types and the calcareous grassland/acidic dry dwarf-shrub heath mosaic all have a restricted distribution in Britain. Four nationally rare and seven notable plant species are also present. Plants of interest include the nationally rare Cheddar Pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus), Bedstraw (Galium fleurotii), Dwarf Sedge (Carex humilis) and Dwarf Mouse-ear (Cerastium pumilum). Rose Wood and King's Wood are ancient woodland sites. The nationally rare Purple Gromwell (Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum) occurs at Rose Wood.[4]
Geological
There are cave deposits of interest at the southern end of Crook Peak. Picken's Hole is of considerable importance because of its clear, well-stratified sequence of deposits and faunas, all dating from within the Devensian. The rich Layer 3 fauna, radiocarbon dated to 34,265 (+2600/–1950) years BP, includes Spotted Hyena, Lion, Arctic fox, Mammoth, Woolly Rhinoceros, horse, reindeer, suslik and Tundra Vole. The site is a major source of information for this phase of the Middle Devensian. It is also the most carefully excavated hyena-den site and assemblage from Britain.[4]
Barton Camp
Barton Camp, which is on the slopes of Crook Peak, is run by the Bristol Children's Help Society which was founded in 1884 to help needy children. The facilities include classrooms, a sports hall, outdoor pool, playing field and bunkhouse accommodation.[5]
References
- ^ "Crook Peak". West Mendip Soaring Association. Retrieved 2006-07-17.
- ^ "Winscombe Parish". Retrieved 2006-07-18.
- ^ "Not a soul in the West Mendips". Times Online. Retrieved 2006-07-18.
- ^ a b "Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill" (PDF). English Nature. Retrieved 2006-07-17.
- ^ Steve Eggington (2006). "Serious Playtime". Mendip Times. 2 (3): 10–11.
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