Highcliffe to Milford Cliffs
UK Site of Special Scientific Interest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Highcliffe to Milford Cliffs is a 110.1-hectare (272-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest which stretches along the south coast of England from Christchurch in Dorset to Milford on Sea in Hampshire.[1][2] It includes several Geological Conservation Review sites.[3][4][5][6][7]
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| |
| Location | Dorset Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | SZ 239 926[1] |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 110.1 hectares (272 acres)[1] |
| Notification | 1991[1] |
| Location map | Magic Map |
This site stretches along the cliffs of Christchurch Bay for 9-kilometre (5.6-mile). It exposes the fossil rich strata of the Barton Beds and Headon Beds, dating to the Eocene epoch around 40 million years ago, and is the type locality for many species of fauna and flora. The Barton Beds are capped by Pleistocene gravels which are rich in Paleolithic artefacts.[8]
