| Wildlife & Geology |
The Avon Gorge is home to a wide diversity of plants and animals.
Because it’s such a good place for wildlife its:
- Nationally recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest
- Internationally recognised as a Special Area of Conservation
Leigh Woods, part of which is designated a National Nature Reserve is situated on the western edge of the Avon Gorge. This diverse ancient broad-leaved woodland with ancient coppice and veteran pollards is home to many rare and unusual plants and animals.
Although on the edge of the city the Downs feel like open countryside. The Downs, which run along the eastern edge of the Avon Gorge, are also important for wildlife with large areas of limestone grassland brimming with wild flowers. It’s also a great place for bird-watching as over 65 different species use the site.
Why not discover the Avon Gorge, Leigh Woods and the Downs through our scenic virtual tour and our wildlife virtual tour. In this section of the website you can also check out our diaries for a month-by-month guide to our wildlife high-lights. You can choose from the Avon Gorge and Downs Diary or the Leigh Woods Diary. |
| Geology |
According to local folklore the Avon Gorge was constructed by a local giant, but it is actually testimony to the erosive power of water over many thousands of years. The River Avon is one of several parallel rivers that flow northwest towards the Bristol Channel. The river, supplied with large quantities of water during the Ice Age, was strong enough to cut through these hard Carboniferous rocks to result in the steep-sided Gorge that you see today.
To discover the fantastic geology of the Avon Gorge why not visit our geology section? |
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