North Somerset Levels

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The North Somerset Levels are an expanse of low-lying flat ground which occupy an area between Weston-super-Mare and Bristol in North Somerset, England. The River Banwell, River Kenn and River Yeo are the three principal rivers draining the area.

To the south they are bounded by the Mendip Hills, to the east by the Yeo Valley and the Lulsgate Plateau, and to the north by the Tickenham Ridge. To the west lies the Severn Estuary.

They are distinct from two similar areas: the much larger Somerset Levels to the south in Somerset, and the smaller Gordano Valley to the north.

The term "Avon Levels" has also been used - either as a synonym for the North Somerset Levels, or to refer a larger area also including all of the other low-lying flat areas in the former county of Avon (e.g. the Gordano Valley and the areas around Severn Beach and Avonmouth)

[edit] Towns and villages on the North Somerset Levels

The following are the principal towns and villages in the area

[edit] Biodiversity

A number of areas of the Levels have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Tickenham, Nailsea and Kenn Moors SSSI is an extensive SSSI in the northern part of the Levels. Yanal Bog, a calcicolous mire near Sandford is designated for its plant communities, which include two plant species rare in southwest England.

[edit] External links


 
The North Somerset Levels
The towns and villages: Congresbury | Kenn | Kingston Seymour | Puxton | Yatton
SSSIs: Biddle Street, Yatton | Puxton Moor | Tickenham, Nailsea and Kenn Moors | Yanal Bog