Beacon Wood Country Park Print

Beacon Wood Country Park, formerly known as Bean Clay Pit, currently displays little of geological interest despite some recognition of its geology on public display boards and on the website. However it has the potential, with some clearance, to become an important and rare inland Tertiary site linking the SSSIs at Upnor and Charlton.

Interest focuses on the excavated fault that runs north-south, as a cliff, between the upper and lower parts of the former London Clay pit. Previous descriptions of the cliff line have recorded an upwards sequence of: Woolwich Shell Beds, Blackheath Pebble Beds, Oldhaven Sands, London Clay Basement Bed and the overlying London Clay. [These are traditional names, modern nomenclature refers to the Harwich and London Clay Formations.] Various fossils have been recorded from these beds but no detailed study appears to have been carried out.

Clearance of vegetation and fallen debris along a 30 metre section of the cliff (fault-plane) would provide an important geological resource for schools, life-long learning and academic research.

Access And Safety

The site is a Country Park open to the public.