Barker Scar


Barker Scar is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Cumbria, England. It is located at, west of Cark and Holker Hall, and is situated on the eastern bank of the River Leven south of the Old Park Wood Holiday Park. The borders of this protected area are contiguous with the boundaries of Morecambe Bay SSSI, and so is part of a wider area of nature protection. Part of this protected area was previously known as Old Park Wood SSSI. Barker Scar is protected because of the species rich grassland on top of cliffs and also because of the Carboniferous fossils contained within its limestone cliffs.

Biology

Herbaceous plant species within the cliff top grassland include common knapweed, burnet saxifrage, dropwort, restharrow, salad burnet, wild thyme, common rock rose, squinancywort, common centaury, limestone bedstraw, common gromwell, green-winged orchid, and spring cinquefoil.

Geology

The site is situated on cliffs of Carboniferous Limestone overlooking the surrounding saltmarsh. Fossils recorded in the Carboniferous limestone include brachipods, corals, foraminifera and conodonts.