Royston Chalk Pits
Natural exposures of rock are scarce in Hertfordshire. These two reserves show fine examples of the underlying bedrock of the county that is so important in shaping the types of vegetation on the surface.
These pits are unique among the Trust reserves as they are primarily of geological interest. Royston Pit has a large and impressive face of chalk, surrounded by a small area of secondary woodland which has a quite varied ground flora.
Barkway pit is also a chalk exposure, but here a series of major and minor faults can be seen. These are the result of the action of the ancient ice sheet that once covered East Anglia, and which crumpled the chalk and pushed it over the boulder clay. The surrounding vegetation is mainly chalk scrub, including wild plum and downy rose.
Royston Pit is owned by the Trust. Barkway Pit is leased from North Herts District Council.
The reserves are managed in order to maintain and enhance the diversity of species and maintain the chalk exposures.
