Shiplate Slait

Shiplate Slait (grid reference ST365567) is a 33.9 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the village of Loxton, within the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, North Somerset, notified in 1987.

Shiplate Slait

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location within Somerset
Location	Avon
Grid reference	ST365567
Coordinates	51.30586°N 2.91232°W / 51.30586; -2.91232
Interest	Biological
Area	33.9 hectares (0.339 km2; 0.131 sq mi)
Notification	1987 (1987)
Natural England website

The site is underlain by Clifton Down Limestone, Burrington Oolite, Black Rock Dolomite and Black Rock Limestone of the Carboniferous Limestone Series. There is dolomitic conglomerate (Triassic Mudstone) at the lower edges of the site. The site has unimproved calcicolous grassland, some of which is mixed with dwarf-shrub, mosaics of calcicolous grassland and scrub and woodland. Four nationally rare types of vegetation form most of the grassland. Rare species include Koeleria vallesiana (Somerset hair-grass), Carex humilis (dwarf sedge) and Potentilla tabernaemontani (spring cinquefoil).^[1]

A bowl barrow of Neolithic to Bronze Age with a diameter of 24 metres (79 ft) and around 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in) high, is scheduled as an ancient monument.^[2] Two further bowl barrows are also scheduled.^[3]

References

1. English Nature citation sheet for the site (accessed 16 July 2006)
2. Historic England. "Bowl barrow on Shiplate Slait (1009883)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
3. Historic England. "Two bowl barrows on Shiplate Slait (1008112)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 January 2015.