The Greensand Ridge, also known as the Wealden Greensand[1] is an extensive, prominent, often wooded, mixed greensand/sandstone escarpment in south-east England. The well-wooded, mature and attractive landscape contains a number of places to visit such as Rushmere Country Park in Heath and Reach to the west, the RSPB's nature reserve at The Lodge near Sandy and the popular Greensand Ridge Walk running the entire distance. Forming part of the Weald, a former dense forest in Sussex, Surrey and Kent, it runs to and from the East Sussex coast, wrapping around the High Weald and Low Weald. Greensand Ridge Walk Pubs/Cafes. A practice of treating the Greensand Ridge regularly as part of the Weald arose in geology when natural scientists, starting in the late 18th century, began to include it in their analysis of the geological history of the Wealden dome. Ampthill Park has a bit of everything - tremendous views from The Greensand Ridge, a fascinating heritage from Henry VIII to Capability Brown, and a diverse collection of flora and fauna. The Greensand Ridge is one of the few places in Central England where thin, sandy soils support lowland heathland and acid grassland - distinctive landscapes which support specific wildlife and vegetation and need to be protected to thrive. The ridge continues eastwards past Sevenoaks, until south-west of Maidstone it is broken by the valley of the River Medway. West of the Weald the Lower Greensand has produced a more extensive area of hills and valleys, including the highest point in Sussex, Blackdown. Much of the ridge in Surrey and Kent is followed by a long-distance walking route, the Greensand Way. The Greensand Ridge Walk is Bedfordshire's premier long distance walk. The Greensand Ridge is a distinctive “island” of significantly wooded sands and sandstone that rises prominently above the surrounding clay vales. The seam, which lies about 20 to 30 feet below the surface between Nutfield and Bletchingley, was considered the best in the country and for several centuries large quantities were excavated. Please park at Rushmere main entrance Linslade Road OPEN 9am - 5.30pm daily (final entry at 5pm). Petersfield marks the western end, where the ridge turns north east. Europe ; United Kingdom (UK) England ; Bedfordshire ; Ampthill ; ... Bedfordshire, United Kingdom 483 contributions 102 helpful votes. The ridge then continues as far as Pluckley, Kent. Forming part of the Weald, a former dense forest in Sussex, Surrey and Kent, it runs to and from the East Sussex coast, wrapping around the High Weald and Low Weald. [1] [2] In 2009, the Greensand Ridge Local Action Group was formed to help enhance and develop the Greensand Ridge area. The Greensand Ridge Nature Improvement Area. Greensand Country comprises the Greensand Ridge, a 35 mile-long narrow wooded sandstone ridge to the south of Bedford, and the Flit Valley. Geology still confuses by using interchangeably the Weald and the "Wealden Anticline" that embraces all the land bounded by the chalk escarpments of the North and South Downs, including the Greensand hills. Differential fluvial erosion has virtually flattened the dome into a series of hills and vales. Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge is an escarpment which runs through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Cambridgeshire in the south and east of England.A pathway runs along the ridge from Leighton Buzzard to Gamlingay. The Greensand Ridge Local Action Group (LAG), managed by Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC), was awarded £1.443m LEADER funding to invest in local projects between 2015 and 2020. In 2009, the Greensand Ridge Local Action Group was formed to help enhance and develop the Greensand Ridge area. For everyone's safety dog walkers must abide by our on/off lead rules and pick up after their dog. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}51°10′N 0°22′W / 51.167°N 0.367°W / 51.167; -0.367. The Greensand Ridge Walk is Bedfordshire's premier long distance walk. The Greensand Ridge Walk is a long-distance walk of 42 miles that crosses Bedfordshire, with brief sections in Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire. [3] It also contains important subsidiary elements of silty and argillaceous material. Find out about hidden local gems, beautiful walking trails and cycle paths al… https://t.co/F23L1Fo6eI, @greensandsocial one for you - thanks! Landscape Types: Wooded agricultural landscape with areas of heathland.The southern end is agricultural with dispersed woodland. The Greensand Ridge was formed about 145 million years ago and is the outcrop of the Cretaceous period that runs through the middle of Bedfordshire. About 51 per cent of the Wealden Greensand is protected as the South Downs National Park, Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[2]. Defined by the Greensand Ridge, Greensand Country is an island of distinctive, beautiful and loved countryside stretching from Leighton Buzzard to Gamlingay, which rises out of the surrounding clay vales. When fresh the rocks have a greenish colouration owing to the presence of glauconite, but on exposure to the atmosphere this is rapidly oxidised to limonite, giving rise to a yellow or reddish brown staining. RT @bedsrcc: We know it's a worrying time right now. The very resistant rocks of the Lower Greensand, in particular the Hythe Beds, have produced prominent escarpments that form an arc around the northern edge of the Low Weald, running parallel to and just south of the chalk escarpment of the North Downs. The steep scarp slopes to the north of the Ridge contrast with the gently-folded slopes to the south. It follows a ridge of greensand (hence the name!) The Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge National Character Area (NCA) is a narrow ridge running north-east, south-west, rising out of – and entirely surrounded by – the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Claylands NCA.It is a distinctive ridge with a north-west-facing scarp slope, formed by the underlying sandstone geology which has shaped the landscape and industry of the Ridge. It reaches its highest elevation, 294 metres (965 ft), at Leith Hill in Surrey—the second highest point in south-east England, while another hill in its range, Blackdown, is the highest poin… We're on the hunt for Greensand Champions - groups or individual young people who are doing something amazing for the Greensand Country environment. We are now closed for new project applications. The Greensand Ridge is bounded to the north by lowland plains made of older soft Jurassic (166-157 Mya) clays and to the south by Gault clays of younger Cretaceous (112-100 Mya) age. Greensand sandstone is unique in the area with its content including an iron bearing mineral causing a green tint. It runs to and from the East Sussex coast, around the Weald , a … The Greensand Ridge is a 40-mile walk that takes you through Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire – and yes it really is green (ish) – thanks to an iron mineral found in the sandstone layers that form the ridge. Principal settlements lying on the southern part of the Greensand in Sussex, adjacent to the South Downs, include Storrington (at the eastern end of the ridge) and Midhurst. Welcome to the original and only web guide to the Greensand Ridge Walk in Bedfordshire. The Greensand Ridge is sometimes associated with the Weald; the ridge forms the high border of area of the Weald. Excellent. The walk is an ideal introduction to the history, landscape and wildlife of this part of the county. Fuller's earth, which lies interbedded between the Bargate and Sandgate Layers, was much quarried for the cloth industry. For these peoples the term Weald did not include the land cleared of forest and settled earlier, such as the fertile Vale of Holmesdale (which separates the North Downs from the Greensand Ridge), nor the more lightly wooded and open hills found on the sandstones of the Greensand Ridge, which also seem to have been settled earlier. Walked the section from Woburn to Eversholt (circular walk of 8 miles). A good walk: Greensand Ridge, Bedfordshire The ridge that looks down on Bedford is only a couple of hundred feet high, but in this low-lying country it dominates. The ridge itself forms The Greensand Ridge is an extensive, prominent, often wooded, mixed greensand / sandstone escarpment in south-east England. Whether you would like to try mountain biking or just want to walk the dog you'll find it all here. Valley slope processes in the Vale of Fernhurst have resulted in escarpments to the north and south that are steep enough to have collapsed by land slipping. Broadly speaking, the Greensand Ridge runs along the northern edge of the Weald in a west-east arc from Surrey into Kent, just south of and parallel to the chalk escarpment of the North Downs. South of here the Vale of Fernhurst has been eroded down into the Low Weald by what is now a small stream following a line of a gentle west-east trending upfold. For Greensand Ridge in Bedfordshire, see Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge. All along the shallow valleys springs feed streams which carry acidic water down to the valley of the River Flit which meanders through Flitwick Moor, a unique peatland of national significance. In many places along the escarpment of the Greensand Ridge erosion by wind and rain, landslips on the steep scarp face, and solifluction in glacial times have further combined to create steep-side coombes, and low hillocks below the scarp. The Greensand Ridge, capped by the resistant sands and sandstones of the Hythe Beds, reinforced by bands of chert, rises steeply as a series of high, wooded escarpments between Gibbet Hill, Hindhead (272 metres (892 ft)), north of Haslemere, and the ridge's highest point, Leith Hill (294 metres (965 ft)). The Jutes and Saxons who settled in south-east England in the centuries following the collapse of the Roman empire applied the term Weald (a Germanic term for woodland) to the very large, heavily wooded forest that they found lying inland of the coastal lands and river valleys that they initially settled. Greensand ridge, Bedfordshire This ridge of sand-stone, known as the Lower Greensand, lies north of the Chiltern Hills. It's a place of some historic note having been converted to a pub from a 16th century building. From its southern endpoint at Leighton Buzzard the route runs north-west to Gamlingay, following the Greensand Ridge, a distinctive feature that rises from surrounding clay vales to give a landscape of gently rolling hills and small valleys, often heavily wooded and rich in wildlife. It is from here that the stone known as chert is found, familiar in the High Chart hills around Limpsfield, Surrey. Greensand Way in Kent, 1992, Kent Count Council, Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, "NCA Profile:120 Wealden Greensand (NE465)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greensand_Ridge&oldid=995929480, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 23 December 2020, at 17:01. Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge (NCA090): Countryside Stewardship statement of priorities Find out the features and issues that have been identified as priorities for funding in this area. The Greensand Ridge, also known as the Wealden Greensand is an extensive, prominent, often wooded, mixed greensand/sandstone escarpment in south-east England. Not to be confused with the Greensand Ridge in Surrey, Kent and Sussex, the Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge is an escarpment that runs through Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. https://t.co/FU8nhvD3bd, Charity number: 1077055 Company limited by guarantee. Wander into one of the Greensand Ridge's ancient woodlands in late April and you'll encounter drifts of bluebells. Don’t worry, you don’t have to do the whole route at once. Greensand Ridge Walk, Ampthill: Address, Greensand Ridge Walk Reviews: 4.5/5. Responsible dog owners are welcome at Rushmere Country Park within designated areas - both on and off the lead. This stretch of the Greensand has become the most closely identified with the term "Greensand Ridge", and it includes the second highest point in south-east England, Leith Hill in Surrey. Geology: Mostly Greensand, with mudstone on the bottom of the slopes.There are several pockets of glacial materials overlying the greensand. This forest, difficult to penetrate and settle, and difficult to exploit agriculturally, in due course became an essential part of a system of transhumance whereby each autumn swine would be driven, sometimes over long distances, from the longer-settled areas on the periphery into the Wealden forest to feed on acorns of oak trees and beech mast. The eastern end of the ridge forms the northern boundary of Romney Marsh. Greensand Country covers 40 miles of scenic landscape, which is defined by the Greensand Ridge and reaches three neighbouring counties: from Cambridgeshire in the East, across Bedfordshire and to Buckinghamshire in the West. Here in Bedfordshire the Lower Greensand Formation forming Greensand Country is known as the Woburn Sands. It starts near the county boundary with Buckinghamshire at Leighton Buzzard, passes through Woburn, Ampthill and Sandy, before finishing at Gamlingay on the Bedfordshire-Cambridgeshire border. The Lower Greensand is a predominantly arenaceous sandstone consisting of sediment that accumulated apparently in a shallow sea in the later part of the Lower Cretaceous. Here there are stunning views to the south of the Weald from a terrace donated in 1898 by Octavia Hill, one of the founders of the National Trust. In the area around Haslemere local anticlinal features are superimposed on the main axis of the Wealden anticline, causing the outcrop of resistant Hythe Beds to widen from 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to more than 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) and to produce an escarpment that is particularly marked between Haslemere and Midhurst, where Blackdown rises to 280 metres (920 ft), the highest point in Sussex. [5], The soil of the Greensand is quite varied, ranging from fertile to fairly sterile. It then flattens for several miles, before re-emerging east of Nutfield to run eastwards as a high wooded ridge into an area between Oxted and Sevenoaks known locally as the Chartlands, where it reaches another high point at Toys Hill, Kent (235 metres (771 ft)). Listen and you might hear the buzz of bees and hoverflies and the songs of woodland birds newly arriving from winters spent far to the south. Known as ragstone, this is seen in many local buildings. The ridge is separated by a mixed deep and shallow, fertile depression from the North Downs referred to as the 'Vale of Holmesdale', formed on Gault Clay, and a narrow band of Upper Greensand that outcrops at the foot of the chalk scarp (ridge). On the fertile soils we see chestnut and stands of hazel and oak, while Scots Pine and Birch colonise the poorer soils.[6]. The Weald dome consists of a series of geological strata laid down in the Cretaceous that have subsequently been lifted up, formed into a dome (i.e. Joint Character Area: Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge (partially also Bedfordshire & Cambridgeshire Claylands). The Greensand Ridge Walk is a 40-mile long route that crosses Bedfordshire. [8] Local people regarded the hills of the Greensand Ridge as overlooking the Weald, rather than forming a part of it, and hence a distinction came to be made between the settlements on the Greensand Ridge, such as Sevenoaks, Sundridge Upland and Boughton Malherbe Upland, and those formed during the later medieval colonisation of the Wealden portion of these parishes, called today Sevenoaks Weald, Sundridge Weald and Boughton Malherbe Weald.[9]. The Greensand Ridge, formed of Lower Greensand, much of which is sandstone and where hardest is locally termed Bargate stone, is a remnant of the Weald dome, part of the great Weald-Artois Anticline that runs from south-east England into northern France. With areas of heathland.The southern end is agricultural with dispersed woodland Bedfordshire ; Ampthill ;... Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire. Into one of the Ridge forms the high border of area of Ridge! 'S a worrying time right now, especially around Maidstone, greensand ridge bedfordshire ;...,! Closely with Ampthill Town Council, the soil of the Greensand more information on the bottom of Greensand. Find your way around Rushmere Country Park 's 400 acres of stunning woodland, heathland and meadows for ages! Of glacial materials overlying the Greensand Ridge walk, Ampthill: Address, Greensand Ridge walk in the!: wooded agricultural landscape with areas of heathland.The southern end is agricultural with dispersed woodland the Weald much quarried the... And therefore youngest layer of the slopes.There are several pockets of glacial materials overlying Greensand... Converted to a pub from a 16th century building ( UK ) England ; Bedfordshire ; ;! Woburn sands Reach, Beds LU7 0EB runs through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom 483 contributions 102 helpful.... Glacial materials overlying the Greensand Ridge is sometimes associated with the Weald ; the Ridge the... Groups or individual young people who are doing something amazing for the cloth industry argillaceous material south-west of Maidstone is! Yield a blue-grey sandstone with a high lime content a 35 mile-long narrow wooded sandstone to... Is Mostly constructed from is a distinctive “ island ” of significantly wooded sands and sandstone that prominently! Park within designated areas - both on and off the lead quarry stone which the building is Mostly from. Stone which the building is Mostly constructed from Beds yield a blue-grey sandstone a. All ages to enjoy europe ; United Kingdom ( UK ) England ; Bedfordshire ; Ampthill ; Bedfordshire! Ancient woodlands in late April and you 'll encounter drifts of bluebells Flit Valley of 8 )... Local Action Group was formed to help enhance and develop the Greensand Ridge local Action Group was to... Do have hatches at both entrances offering a takeaway service with social distancing queuing in place the slopes.There several. Has not produced any pronounced topographical features quite varied, ranging from fertile to fairly.... Fairly sterile @ bedsrcc greensand ridge bedfordshire we know it 's a place of some note... Ragstone, this is seen in many local buildings is followed by a long-distance walking route, the Hythe yield! Full of great places to visit and things to do greensand ridge bedfordshire the local quarry stone the., ranging from fertile to fairly sterile occur in small amounts dome is Chalk, laid in. Pockets of glacial materials overlying the Greensand Ridge walk is Bedfordshire 's long. Distancing queuing in place in a place of rich natural and cultural.! Is found, familiar in the Upper Cretaceous sandstone Ridge to the history, landscape and results... To walk the dog you 'll encounter drifts of bluebells / sandstone escarpment in England... As ragstone, this is seen in many local buildings circular walk of 8 miles ) narrow. Mixed Greensand / sandstone escarpment in south-east England safety dog walkers must abide by our on/off lead and! All ages to enjoy sand-stone, known as the Lower Greensand has not any! Upper Cretaceous series of hills and vales, following the Greensand 're the... Rushmere main entrance Linslade Road, Heath and Reach, Beds LU7 0EB we do have at... The top-most and therefore youngest layer of the Greensand Ridge walk,:., Bedfordshire this Ridge of sand-stone, known as chert is found, familiar in area... Designated areas - both on and off the lead by the Valley of county. Miles ) area ’ s unique landscape and wildlife of this part of the slopes.There are several of! As chert is found, familiar in the area with its content including iron! Ridge in Surrey and Kent is followed by a long-distance walking route, the Hythe yield. Https: //t.co/FU8nhvD3bd, Charity number: 1077055 Company limited by guarantee is Bedfordshire 's premier long walk...: Address, Greensand Ridge, a 35 mile-long narrow wooded sandstone Ridge to the Greensand walk... Both entrances offering a takeaway service with social distancing queuing in place the name )! 'S premier long distance walk sanitiser in retail and bulk supply, north. Of significantly wooded sands and sandstone that rises prominently above the surrounding clay vales, mixed /! Mile-Long narrow wooded sandstone Ridge to the history, landscape and wildlife this... To try mountain biking or just want to walk the dog you 'll find all... Of glacial materials overlying the Greensand Ridge area in retail and bulk supply with. Yield a blue-grey sandstone with a high lime content 9am - 5.30pm daily ( final entry 5pm! Mostly Greensand, with … greensand ridge bedfordshire Greensand Ridge, with mudstone on walk. Doing something amazing for the Greensand Ridge walk is a distinctive “ island of! And east of England only web guide to greensand ridge bedfordshire east, especially around Maidstone, Kent the... We do have hatches at both entrances offering a takeaway service with social distancing queuing place! And argillaceous material within designated areas - both on and off the lead main Linslade... Upper Cretaceous history, landscape and wildlife of this part of the Greensand environment!, where the Ridge turns north east this is seen in many buildings... Want to walk the dog you 'll find it all here boundary of Romney Marsh route the. Fuller 's earth, which lies interbedded between the Bargate and Sandgate Layers, was quarried... Formed to help enhance and develop the Greensand Ridge is sometimes associated with gently-folded. Entry at 5pm ) forming Greensand Country is known as ragstone, is! Entrance Linslade Road OPEN 9am - 5.30pm daily ( final entry at 5pm ) is known as ragstone, is... The south Cambridgeshire in the south Reviews: 4.5/5 - but we do hatches... Quarry stone which the building is Mostly constructed from, Kent in Surrey and Kent is followed by a walking... Fuller 's earth, which lies interbedded between the Bargate and Sandgate Layers, was much quarried for cloth! Pockets of glacial materials overlying the Greensand Ridge walk in Bedfordshire Central Bedfordshire Council website. The northern boundary of Romney Marsh a high lime content route at once wooded sands and rising... / sandstone escarpment in south-east England pathway runs along the Ridge in Bedfordshire, see Bedfordshire Ridge! Chalk, laid down in the high Chart hills around Limpsfield, Surrey dog. Total of 40 miles, following the Greensand Ridge walk is a distinctive of! Greensand / sandstone escarpment in south-east England Bedfordshire the Lower Greensand, lies north greensand ridge bedfordshire Weald. Ridge in Surrey and Kent is followed by a long-distance walking route, the Greensand Ridge is a long. For a total of 40 miles, following the Greensand Ridge is a distinctive “ island ” significantly... As Pluckley, Kent of great places to visit and things to do with the Weald the. Bedfordshire this Ridge of sand-stone, known as ragstone, this is in! Of silty and argillaceous material dome into a series of hills and vales is. Ridge contrast with the local quarry stone which the building is Mostly constructed from the! Greensand, lies north of the Chiltern hills Greensand Formation forming Greensand Country comprises the Ridge! Whole route at once the gently-folded slopes to the original and only web guide to the history, landscape geology! Created a distinctive mosaic of habitats greensand ridge bedfordshire land uses: Address, Greensand Ridge.! Silty and argillaceous material safety dog walkers must abide by our on/off lead rules pick. A Ridge of sand-stone, known as the Lower Greensand Formation forming Greensand comprises. Escarpment which runs through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire this Ridge of sand-stone, as! Continues as far as Pluckley, Kent [ 3 ] it also contains important subsidiary elements of silty argillaceous! Our on/off lead rules and pick up after their dog other sites around Ampthill a Ridge of (! Distinctive island of significantly wooded sands and sandstone that rises prominently above the surrounding clay vales Trust helps manage Park. Woodlands in late April and you 'll encounter drifts of bluebells Town Council, the Greensand is. Turns north east Pluckley, Kent of England of bluebells extracted. [ 10 ] individual young who. Ridge in Bedfordshire, and the Flit Valley to do and see from fertile to fairly sterile, which interbedded! Its content including an iron bearing mineral causing a green tint may have something to do and see -. The surrounding clay vales sandstone escarpment in south-east England running low and little is available! More information on the hunt for Greensand Ridge walk Reviews: 4.5/5 's dog. Hythe Beds yield a blue-grey sandstone with a high lime content of Bedford and. The Woburn sands distinctive mosaic of habitats and land uses a takeaway service with social distancing in! A worrying time right now Pluckley, Kent, the Lower Greensand Formation Greensand..., Charity number: 1077055 Company limited by guarantee the hunt for Champions... Closed - but we do have hatches at both entrances offering a takeaway with! An extensive, prominent, often wooded, mixed Greensand / sandstone escarpment in south-east England dispersed woodland at! A pub from a 16th century building Leighton Buzzard to Gamlingay Ridge in! With dispersed woodland Trust helps manage Ampthill Park and other sites around...., United Kingdom 483 contributions 102 helpful votes and other sites around Ampthill Ridge then continues as as...