Gordano Valley

Infobox SSSI


name=Gordano Valley
aos=Avon
interest=Geological and Biological
gridref=ST435730
area=161.68 hectare
notifydate=1971

http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?
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Gordano (or the Gordano Valley) (gbmapping|ST435730) is an area of North Somerset, in England. The valley runs roughly north-east to south-west, between a ridge of hills extending along the coastline between Clevedon and Portishead, and another ridge extending between Clevedon and Easton in Gordano. The area includes the villages of Clapton in Gordano, Weston in Gordano, Easton in Gordano, Walton in Gordano, Portbury and Sheepway. The M5 motorway runs along the south side of the valley, splitting briefly into two levels - the south-west-bound level running above the north-east-bound carriageway. The Gordano motorway service station is at the eastern end of the valley, near the Royal Portbury Dock and the Avonmouth Bridge. There is no river Gordano - much of the valley is reclaimed land barely above sea level, and it is drained by ditches (known in the area as "rhynes"). The rhynes previously managed by the now amalgamated Gordano Valley Internal Drainage Board are now the responsibility of the North Somerset Internal Drainage Board.

An area comprising a total of 161.68 hectares has been designated as a biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest, notification originally having taken place in 1971. Several sites in the valley are managed by the Avon Wildlife Trust as nature reserves. These include; Weston Big Wood, Clapton Moor, Weston Moor and Walton Common.

ources

* [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002698.pdf English Nature citation sheet for the site] (accessed on 19 July 2006)