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EFC Centre at Wat Tyler Country ParkOur centre is available for visits on a pre-booked basis on Wednesdays between 10am - 4pm. The Club’s activities and displays are also usually open to the public on the first Saturday of the month 11am - 4pm.

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About the Essex Field Club
Essex Field Club
registered charity
no 1113963
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Geology Site Account

A-Z Geological Site Index

Sunnymead Farm Gravel Cliff, WIVENHOE, Tendring District, TM05092201, General geological site

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Site category: Thames (pre-diversion)

Site name: Sunnymead Farm Gravel Cliff

Grid reference: TM 0509 2201

Brief description of site:

As part of the restoration of disused gravel pits belonging to Wivenhoe Gravel Pit in 2012, a cliff of gravel was retained for the benefit of sandmartins. This cliff provides a good section in Wivenhoe Gravel which was laid down by a former course of the Thames about 500,000 years ago.

Wivenhoe Gravel is part of the Kesgrave Sands and Gravels which was laid down by the Thames when it flowed across this area before being diverted to its present course by ice during the Anglian glaciation about 450,000 years ago (see separate site account for Wivenhoe Gravel Pit SSSI).

It is an important visible section but unfortunately it is now very difficult to access as the land in front of the cliff has since flooded.



Cliff of Wivenhoe Gravel near Sunnymead Farm, Wivenhoe in 2014. Photo: G.Lucy

 

Sunnymead Farm Gravel Cliff during restoration in 2012
Sunnymead Farm Gravel Cliff during restoration in 2012

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Geology Site Map
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