Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs
Notification 1986[1] | | |
Location map | Magic Map |
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Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs is a 165.4-hectare (409-acre) biological and geological
Geology
Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs provides the best and most extensive exposure of an important chronological fossil site in England. The gentle folding and the ease of access to the cliff exposures make this an important collecting site for faunas of the upper
The platform is overlain by raised beach deposits of sand and shingle which contain shell fragments which amongst other methods have given the beach and cliff a general date from the second half of the last (
The landforms,
Along much of the cliffed coast between Brighton and Newhaven (and beyond to Eastbourne), frost involution structures can be seen in the upper meter of the chalk cliff. These involutions appear as repeated 'U' (festoon) shaped structures and date from the Devensisn (last glacial period). Frost heaving broke up the sub-surface sedimentary layers of chalk turning small slabs into a more and more upright orientation towards the surface, to be covered by present day soil. The centre of the 'U' structure is a fill of finer chalk and sands giving a more orange / yellow appearance. These structures have a polygonal surface manifestation which can be revealed by stripping away turf and soil. Slope angle appears to have had an effect on their formation. Where the gradient exceeds 20 degrees solifluction appears to have been a more dominant process preventing their formation. This may link to the patterned ground features of stone nets becoming elongated by gradient resulting in stone stripes as seen in modern periglacial environment and in relic locations such as Dartmoor.
Undercliff Walk
The Undercliff Walk is a 4.5 km (2.8 mi) path at the foot of the cliffs from Black Rock, Brighton to
References
- ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Newhaven to Brighton (Cenomanian, Turonian, Senonian, Maastrichtian)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Map of Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Designated Sites View: Castle Hill, Newhaven". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ "The Cliffs between Black Rock and Saltdean". Brighton & Hove City Council. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ "CoastView - Roedean Cliffs". University of Sussex. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ Lock, Rose (10 February 2021). "Undercliff walk closed after pedestrians hit by falling cliff debris". The Argus. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ Carey, Jasmine (17 January 2023). "Saltdean Undercliff Walk closed after 'constant and significant' chalk fall". SussexLive. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ "Undercliff Walk behind Brighton Marina to reopen". BBC News. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ "Doing the Undercliff Walk". thisisbrighton.co.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ "Newsroom".
External links
- "Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England.
- undercliffwalk.uk, walking and cycling guide