Brown's Folly
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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 Location within Somerset
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| Area of Search | Avon |
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| Grid reference | ST793662 |
| Coordinates | 51°23′40″N 2°17′56″W / 51.39445°N 2.29891°WCoordinates: 51°23′40″N 2°17′56″W / 51.39445°N 2.29891°W |
| Interest | Geological and Biological |
| Area | 98.5 acres (0.399 km2; 0.1539 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1974 |
Brown's Folly (grid reference ST793662) is a 39.9 hectare biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) near the village of Bathford in Somerset, notified in 1974. Also known as Farleigh (or Farly) Down Stone Quarry, it is operated as a nature reserve by the Avon Wildlife Trust (AWT). The site is named after a folly tower of the same name. It was built in 1848 and has been designated as a Grade II listed building.
Brown's Folly is situated on steep west-facing slopes which overlook the River Avon. The calcareous soils have developed on Lower Lias clays, fuller's earth and oolitic limestone strata of Jurassic age. The local geology is of major importance in the context of the British Bathonian stratigraphy.
The site includes the remains of quarries used for the extraction of Bath Stone. These provide a rich variety of wildlife habitats. Downland flora has covered the spoilheaps where wild thyme, harebell and nine species of orchid (including the rare Fly Orchid) are found.Yellow Bird's-nest occurs here. The damp cliff faces support a variety of ferns, fungi and spiders. Pockets of ancient woodland on the lower slopes are home to woodpeckers, and unusual plants such as Bath asparagus.
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