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Ebbor Gorge

Ebbor Gorge is a limestone gorge in Somerset, England, close to Wells, designated as a 63.5 hectare (156.8 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Mendip Hills, notified in 1952.

A 40 hectare area of the gorge is owned by the National Trust, and managed by English Nature as a National Nature Reserve. There are three marked trails of varying lengths around the steeply wooded gorge, the shortest of which is suitable for wheelchair users. Various caves within the gorge were habited by neolithic people.

The site is considered by some to be more tranquil than the nearby Wookey Hole village and caves and offers views across the Somerset levels to Glastonbury Tor and beyond. The land was donated to the National Trust by Mrs G.W. Hodkinson in memory of Winston Churchill.

Geology

Ebbor Gorge lies on the south west facing slope of the Mendip Hills and consists of a steep sided ravine cut into Carboniferous Limestone. A stream issuing to the west of the site runs down the tributary valley of Hope Wood before joining the main gorge. Millstone Grit and Lower Coal Measures form an impermeable floor to this valley.

Flora

The ground flora is indicative of the calcareous nature of the site, with Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) being locally dominant. Many of the associated species are characteristic of ancient woodland. Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) and Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) are both locally abundant. The valley of the main gorge is humid and provides ideal conditions for fungi and ferns. It contains a substantial assemblage of bryophytes with over 120 species recorded including the nationally rare Bryum canariense and very rare Amblystegiella confervoides.

Wildlife

The varied age and canopy structure of woodland encourages a high diversity of butterflies, nationally scarce species including the White-letter Hairstreak (Strymonidia walbum) and High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis edippe), while species such as the Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra coridon) and Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) occur on the limestone grassland. Greater Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) and Lesser Horseshoes (Rhinolophus hipposideros) regularly use sites in the Gorge as hibernacular roosts. Several caves occur within the Gorge, of which Bridged pot provides one of the best (presumed) Late Devensian small-mammal assemblages known from Britain. Most of the deposit remains in situ. The fauna includes steppe pika, arctic lemming, Norway lemming, various voles, red deer and reindeer.