Fonthill Grottoes
Encyclopedia
Fonthill Grottoes is a 0.69 hectare
biological Site of Special Scientific Interest, in woodland adjacent to Fonthill Lake
in Wiltshire
, notified in 1994. Its SSSI designation is due to its roosting bats: the site is the sixth largest hibernaculum in Britain.
The site consists of three subterranean Grotto
follies
, constructed in the 18th century, split between two areas, one on the western side of the lake, at and one on the eastern side at .
The three follies are named "The Dark Walks", "The Hermitage" and "The Quarry".
and Lesser Horseshoe Bat
s are among seven species which roost here on a regular basis, and Bechstein's Bat
and Barbastelle
, two species rare in Britain, have each been recorded on several occasions.
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
biological Site of Special Scientific Interest, in woodland adjacent to Fonthill Lake
Fonthill Lake
Fonthill Lake is a lake in southwest Wiltshire, England.A stream flows out of the southern end of the lake and joins the River Nadder at Tisbury, to the southeast....
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, notified in 1994. Its SSSI designation is due to its roosting bats: the site is the sixth largest hibernaculum in Britain.
The site consists of three subterranean Grotto
Grotto
A grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide...
follies
Folly
In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs...
, constructed in the 18th century, split between two areas, one on the western side of the lake, at and one on the eastern side at .
The three follies are named "The Dark Walks", "The Hermitage" and "The Quarry".
Biological interest
The site is used as a hibernation roost site by up to 207 bats of up to nine species. GreaterGreater Horseshoe Bat
The Greater Horseshoe Bat is a European bat of the Rhinolophus genus. Its distribution covers Europe, Africa, South Asia and Australia. It is the largest of the European Horseshoe Bats and is thus easily distinguished from other species...
and Lesser Horseshoe Bat
Lesser horseshoe bat
The Lesser Horseshoe Bat , is a type of European bat related to but smaller than its cousin, the Greater Horseshoe Bat...
s are among seven species which roost here on a regular basis, and Bechstein's Bat
Bechstein's Bat
Bechstein's Bat is a species of vesper bat in the Vespertilionidae family.It can be found in the following countries: Austria, Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Liechtenstein, Republic of Macedonia,...
and Barbastelle
Barbastelle
The Barbastelle , also known as the Western Barbastelle, is a European bat. It has a short nose, small eyes and wide ears.It is rare throughout its range...
, two species rare in Britain, have each been recorded on several occasions.
Source
- English Nature citation sheet for the site (accessed 25 July 2006)
External links
- English Nature website (SSSI information)