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Survey work carried out at the site during 2004 and 2005 has shown the area to be of high wildlife value and that it meets the CWS selection criteria.
The geology of the pit is distinctive of the Gipping valley, with sand and gravels overlying the Upper Chalk Similar exposures are localised elsewhere in Suffolk, occurring in limited locations along the Lark valley near Bury St Edmunds and along the periphery of the Brecks associated with the Little Ouse valley .
Quarrying has left exposed sand and chalk in close proximity and steep sand cliffs. This is rarely found in the county and has resulted in the development of a particularly unusual mosaic of habitats on site.
The central area of the site comprises rank grassland, ponds, scrub and successional vegetation that is important for a wide range of birds including breeding little ringed plover , and the UK and Suffolk BAP species skylark, bullfinch, linnet and reed bunting. Other terrestrial birds of interest associated with the grassland include Meadow Pipit, Snipe, Redshank and Jack Snipe.
The shallow nature of the ponds and surrounding grassland scrub mosaic also make this an important over wintering site for wildfowl and waders.
Sand martins are confirmed to be breeding in the sand cliff to the east of the central area.
The ponds and associated terrestrial habitat are known to support a medium (11-100) resident breeding population of the protected
COLUMN FIELD UPPER QUARRY Great Blakenham Mid Suffolk