Gardening on the Waulsortian Mud Mound

Today we started the photoshoots for the Fund's 2014 annual report. 1st port of call was Salt Hill Quarry nature reserve and geog trail. We are supporting improvements to the trail, better interpretation and exposing the overgrown Waulsortian Mud Mound. The mud mound and the exposed geology in the former quarry have earned it a Site of Special Scientific Importance (SSSI) and Natural England have given permission to do the clearance work. The mud mound is important because the quarrying has cross sectioned the formation so that it's structure can be studied. The rock is carboniferous limestone laid down some 340m year ago in a tropical sea. The mound has been formed, it is thought, by microbial bacteria precipitating the carbonate. The mound is layered with bands of fossil crinoids. After Easter there will be a formal dig on the fossil bank on the site to expose some of the hidden layers and hopefully unearth a few fossil treasures. The site is also great for its limestone flora including Bee orchids, Autumn Gentian and thyme broomrape.