Campfield Kettle Hole

Campfield Kettle Hole is the name given to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in north Northumberland, England. The site is thought to be the remains of a kettle hole, a pond formed in the void remaining after a submerged glacial calf block melted. In contemporary times Campfield Kettle Hole is a mix of bog and pond.[1][2]

Campfield Kettle Hole
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location within Northumberland
Area of SearchNorthumberland
Grid referenceNT862381
Coordinates55.63669°N 2.22073°W / 55.63669; -2.22073
InterestBiological
Area2.92 hectares (7.2 acres)
Notification1969
Location mapDEFRA MAGIC map
Natural England website

Location and natural features

Campfield Kettle Hole is situated in the north-east of England, immediately south of the Anglo-Scottish border in the county of Northumberland, some 0.7 miles (1.1 km) south of the town of Cornhill-on-Tweed. The pond lies at 31 metres (102 ft) above sea level within mildly undulating terrain, and is some 0.09 miles (0.14 km) north-south and 0.22 miles (0.35 km) east-west. The western end is a permanent pond; the eastern-end is prone to occasional flooding; the remainder of the pond has become peat-filled.[1][2]

The local area has a number of other kettle hole ponds; a second, Barelees Pond, lies 0.65 miles (1.05 km) east of Campfield.[1][2]

Vegetation

The kettle hole has deep waterlogged peat soils supporting a carr woodland of birch (Betula sp.) with Scot’s pine (Pinus sylvestris). The woodland floor has bog-mosses (Sphagnum spp.), and hare’s-tail cotton grass (Eriophorum vaginatum) with purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) and wavy hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa).[2]

The western end of the pond is fringed with yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus), water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) and willow (Salix spp). The perimeter has yellow iris and reed canary-grass (Phalaris arundinacea). The uncommon beetle Agabus uliginosus dispar has been recorded from the wetter areas of the site.[2]

The condition of Campfield Kettle Hole was judged to be unfavourable-recovering in 2013, with previous concerns about tree encroachment settled.[3]

See also

References
  1. "MAGIC Map Application - Campfield Kettle Hole". DEFRA MAGIC Map. DEFRA.
  2. "Campfield Kettle Hole SSSI Citation" (PDF). Natural England.
  3. "Condition of SSSI Units for Site Campfield Kettle Hole". Natural England. 26 June 2012.
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