Goblin Combe: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:25, 21 May 2007

Latest revision as of 16:11, 29 March 2025

(33 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|Valley in Somerset, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox SSSI

|image=[[ImageFile:GoblincombeGoblin combe.jpg|200px]]

|name=Goblin Combe

|aos=AvonNorth Somerset

|interest=Biological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|ST473652}}

|coordinates = {{coord|51.383|N|-2.759|W|regiontype:GB_typelandmark_region:landmarkGB|display=inline,title}}

|area=51.87 [[hectare]]

|displaymap=Somerset

|notifydate=1999

|area={{convert|51.87|ha|km2 sqmi}}

|map=[http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=2000328,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL ''English Nature'']

|notifydate={{Start date|1999}}

|enref=2000328

}}

'''Goblin Combe''' is a [[dry valley]] in [[North Somerset]] which stretches for approximately 3½ km from [[Redhill, Somerset|Redhill]], near [[Bristol International Airport]] on the [[A38 road|A38]], through to [[Cleeve, Somerset|Cleeve]] on the [[A370 road|A370]]. The combe is located at ({{gbmapping|ST473652}}), and is a {{convert|52|ha|acre|0|adj=on}} [[biological Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI) originally [[SSSI notification|notified]] in 1999, with {{convert|9|ha|acre|0}} being managed as a [[nature reserve]] by the [[Avon Wildlife Trust]]. The Combe runs along the southern edge of a large woodland. "Combe" is the same as the Welsh word "cwm" which means valley.

Above the valley is [[Cleeve Toot]] an [[Iron Age]] hillfort. It is a roughly oval settlement which is approximately {{convert|125|m|ft}} in length by {{convert|90|m|ft}} in breadth. Approximately {{convert|150|m|ft}} to the north is another, smaller settlement. They are thought to have been a satellite community of nearby [[Cadbury Hill]]<ref name="mp-cleevetoot">{{cite web|title=Cleeve Toot Settlement|url=http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=19485|work=Ancient Settlement in England in Somerset|publisher=Megalithic Portal|accessdate=25 December 2010}}</ref> Pits have been found at the site indicating the presence of round houses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ycccart.co.uk/index_htm_files/Four%20enclosures%20full%20final.pdf |title=Four enclosures on Broadfield Down, North Somerset |work=North Somerset Historic Environment Record |publisher=Yatton, Congresbury, Claverham and Cleeve Archaeological Research Team (YCCCART) |accessdate=18 January 2017 }}</ref> There is a single stone rampart with a broad shallow outer ditch. There is also a prehistoric or Roman field system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=194816&sort=4&search=all&criteria=Cleeve%20Toot&rational=q&recordsperpage=10 |title=Cleeve Toot Camp |work=Pastscape |publisher=[[English Heritage]] |accessdate=8 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930114854/http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=194816&sort=4&search=all&criteria=Cleeve%20Toot&rational=q&recordsperpage=10 |archivedate=30 September 2012 }}</ref>

[[File:Goblin Combe 2.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of part of Goblin Combe near Cleeve.]]

[[File:Goblin Combe AWT 2.jpg|thumb|Part of the Goblin Combe [[Avon Wildlife Trust]] nature reserve.]]

==Folk tale==

Goblin Combe has a folk tale involving primroses:<ref>{{cite web | title=Goblin Combe | work=The Antiquarian | url=http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/2091 | accessdate=2006-12-31}}</ref><ref>FolktalesBriggs, ofKatharine England” by BriggsM. and Tongue, Ruth L. ''Folktales of England''. (1965). Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press.</ref>

<blockquote>“There was a parcel of children and they was a-picking primroses, see, and one poor little dear her wandered away on her lone self right down into Goblin Combe. She were only a little trot, see, and didn't know no better. Well, when she do find she's a lost she cries, and the tears do run down her dear little face, and dap on her pinafore like summer rain, and she do throw her self against a rock. Then the rock opens and there's the fairies all come to comfort her tears. They do give her a gold ball and they lead the dear little soul safe home -&nbsp;– on account she was carrying primroses, see.

Well, twas the wonder of the village and the conjuror he gets the notion he'd aget his fists on more than one gold ball when next the fairies opened the hill. So he do pick a bunch of primroses and he go on up Goblin Combe, and he was glad enough to get in to the rock after all he see and hear on the way up. Well, twasn't the right day, nor the right number of primroses, and he wasn't no dear little soul -&nbsp;– so they took him!“</blockquote>

==Flora and fauna==

A populationspopulation of the [[nationally scarce]] plant [[Stinkingstinking Helleborehellebore]] (''Helleborus foetidus'') grows on [[scree slope]]s in the combe, near [[Cleeve Toot]]; it is [[native plant|native]] at this site. <ref name="Myles">Myles, Sarah. (2000). ''The Flora of the Bristol Region''. ISBNp. 64. {{ISBN|1-874357-18-8}}.</ref> [[Limestone Fernfern]] (''Gymnocarpum robertianum''), another nationally scarce plant, is also found here on limestone scree.<ref>Myles, Sarah. (2000). ''The Flora of the Bristol Region'', p. 59. {{ISBN|1-874357-18-8}}.</ref> nameOther flowers include the [[autumn gentian]], [[autumn ladies'-tresses]] and [[yellow-wort]]. The site also supports a varied collection of [[butterfly|butterflies]], with over 30 species recorded. These include [[grizzled skipper|grizzled]] and [[dingy skipper]]s, [[brown argus]] and [[green hairstreak]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=Myleshttp://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/goblin_combe.htm |title=Avon Wildlife Trust website. |access-date=2008-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528155904/http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/goblin_combe.htm |archive-date=2011-05-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Goblin Combe Environment Centre==

[[File:Former primary school in Cleeve.jpg|thumb|Goblin Combe Environment Centre]]

Goblin Combe Environment Centre is a registered charity (No 1099543) which provides educational training and residential facilities for visiting groups. It is located within a large expanse of woodland ridges at the start of Goblin Combe. The centre's aim is to provide a wide range of environmental education to all ages and all sectors of the community. It uses the woods to provide a teaching space in a 'classroom without walls', and a dynamic learning environment for natural history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goblincombe.com/|title=Goblin Combe Environment Centre|publisher=Goblin Combe Environment Centre|accessdate=2008-10-14}}</ref>

==SourceSources==

* [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/2000328.pdf English Nature citation sheet for the site] (accessed on 16 July 2006)

== References ==

{{reflist}}

<references />

==External links==

*[http://www.goblincombe.com Goblin Combe Environment Centre]

{{SSSIs Avon biological}}

[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in AvonNorth Somerset]]

{{somerset-geo-stub}}

{{UK-SSSI-stub}}

{{coord|51.383|N|2.759|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Avon]]

[[Category:North Somerset]]

[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified in 1999]]

[[Category:Nature reserves in Somerset]]

[[Category:Somerset folklore]]

[[Category:NorthValleys of Somerset]]