Northern slope Mendip Field Trip

 It is no secret that we have plenty of 'geology' where I live, which is on the southern flanks of the Mendips.  I am a member of the Wells U3A Geology group, and enjoy the regular lectures and field trips.  Recently we visited Burrington Combe which is on the northern flanks of the Mendips close to Cheddar Gorge. On the northern slope of the Mendips,  the strata of limestones dip more steeply than those on the southern slopes.  You can read all about the Geology on line, 

Here are some of my pictures taken on the visit.

On the other side of the road is Aveline's cave which was home to some very old human remains dating back some 10 thousand years.

 

Further up Burrington Combe we turned to walk along East Twin Brook. which had very little water in it. I choose to walk along the stream bed, as it proved far easier compared to the very muddy path.

Candle Snuff Fungi were in evidence on the sodden dead wood littering the bed. 

Neither I nor fellow members were inclined to go beyond the various swallot hole openings.

East Twin Swallet

I picked up this rock section from the bed of the stream, and only when I had a close look at home found that it contained numerous fish scales, it could be either the the Avon Group/Lower Limestone Shale. 

The slopes of the combe were devoid of most of the vegetation we see today before myxomatosis devasted the rabbit population.  In this old 1931 silent film of a gathering the contrast is easily seen.

  

In the autumn sunshine we could see how the slopes in places had been colonised by invasive species of shrubs such as this Cotoneaster. Along the outcrops of Burrington Combe were groups of goats foraging on the most inaccessible areas.  These free roaming cashmere goats have been here for nearly two decades and form part of the team of the Langford estate that help to maintain a rich biodiversity in the area. 

We have had some excellent lectures from David Rowley who is head of Geology at Wells Cathedral School, and I am hoping that some of his students or the school may just take up my idea of producing a video regarding the Combe, with geology and a good rendition of the Hymn Rock of Ages.  I have searched but YouTube come up with American Choirs with American Scenery, which is all very beautiful but I think the actual place which inspired Rev Toplady to write the popular hymn would be more appropriate. 

Here is a close up of the crinoid rich limestones.

I'll be taking Mr S to explore this area and Burrington Ham again at a later date. Only a few weeks ago, we explored the area from Burrington Combe westwards and across Dolebury Warren and Iron age Fort.

Geology Walk from Milton Lane Wells

 Last week we had another of our Geology Walks, just the six of us, all socially distanced, led by Dr. Doug Robinson.  With Geology Maps and notes perused beforehand we had our eyes open ready to observe the changes in terrain, stone, vegetation etc.  

We crossed a number of layers starting on The Triassic, crossing the Blue Anchor White Lias, Blue Lias, Charmouth Mudstone, up to Devonian sandstone which forms Penn Hill.

Along the way I was lucky enough to find this specimen of fossilized mudcracks in the Blue Lias formation, now sitting in my grit garden.

What an interesting circular walk, both with its geology, history, and scenery.  Shame it has rained so hard since, as the tracts along the mudstone sections will be almost impassable now. 

In a Vase on Monday - A rolling stone.....

Yesterday I spent an hour or so trying to judge what I would cut for a vase.  There is not much during this in between time in the garden.  One little job I had been meaning to do is make up some little Kokedama balls with some of the rooted cuttings of Crassula Ovata Gollum.  With their moss these little balls roll around...but you can squidge them into standing uprightish!  It was another IVOM contributor who first tickled my interest: Sandra D of Wild Flower.

 Crassula Ovata Gollum as Kokedama

The rolling stones posing alongside on my stone top table, are true volcanic bombs from a Volcano that was active during the Silurian period.  I collected these from on bench in Moons Hill Quarry where they had rolled down after the last blasting.

On a previous geology field trip we explored a cutting where the moss laid thick.  A few handfuls were gathered to make the Kokedama.

Further along on the walk we came across a 'prehistoric' cliff along which the sea used to lap....the fields have long been managed organically, and although this was a geology field trip, I was on the look out for emerging wild flowers.

Yesterday I did cut and stage three stems of Daffodil Hawera at the Annual Wessex Daffodil Show.  Our gardening club helps out with the show, and there is a section for the 'local amateurs'.  My three stems were rewarded...but even after a short trip in the car journey, the pollen seem to attack my brain...so the flowers were left with a neighbour.  I was very generously given lots of tips for as to what makes a show worthy daffodil

Cathy who hosts this meme has a much more airy fairy arrangement this week..do go and see...well worth it: first sweet pea flower of the season!