Wootton Bassett Mud Spring, Geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Wiltshire, England
Wootton Bassett Mud Spring is a geological site in Wiltshire where cold grey mud continuously seeps through vegetation layers. The phenomenon covers a substantial area within Templars Firs Copse and creates a distinctive landscape of muddy accumulations and flowing channels.
Discovery of the site came in 1974 when workers at a sewerage facility noticed unusual mud flowing into a stream. This observation sparked scientific investigations that revealed the unusual geological nature of the phenomenon.
Scientists and researchers frequently visit the site to study the spring's deep geological formations and collect fossil specimens from the Late Jurassic period.
Access from the nearby canal car park requires a short walk through the copse to reach the spring area. The site is open for walking and observation, though visitors should wear appropriate footwear for muddy terrain.
The spring produces continuous flows of fluidized mud from significant depth below the surface. This phenomenon is rare in Britain and demonstrates the exceptional geological conditions in this region.
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