Cherry Hinton Pit

Cherry Hinton Pit is a 12.8 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the south-eastern outskirts of Cambridge. The site consists of East Pit and most of the smaller West Pit (excluding a caravan park in the centre).[1][2] East Pit is part of the Limekiln Close and East Pit Local Nature Reserve,[3] which is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire under the name Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits.[4] West Pit is a separate Local Nature Reserve (LNR).[5]

Cherry Hinton Pit
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Area of SearchCambridgeshire
Grid referenceTL 483 556[1]
InterestBiological
Area12.8 hectares[1]
Notification1986[1]
Location mapMagic Map

These former chalk quarries have a variety of habitats, including grassland and woodland with ash trees, field maple and cherries. The site was designated an SSSI because it has four rare plants, three of which are listed in the British Red List of Threatened Species. These are great pignut, moon carrot and grape hyacinth.[6]

Archaeologists have discovered human bones, Roman and Iron Age pottery fragments, and the remains of an Iron Age ditch on the site.[7] The ditch is often referred to as the 'War Ditches' and believed to be part of a hill fort.[8][9]


There is access from Limekiln Road, which goes between the two pits.

References
  1. "Designated Sites View: Cherry Hinton Pit". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  2. "Map of Cherry Hinton Pit". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  3. "Limekiln Close and East Pit local nature reserve". Cambridge City Council. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  4. "Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Archived from the original on 2016-12-24. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  5. "West Pit local nature reserve". Cambridge City Council. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  6. "Cherry Hinton Pit citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  7. Artefacts found at nature reserve. BBC News. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009
  8. British History Online : Cherry Hinton
  9. "Iron Age forts in Cambridgeshire". Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2010.

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