Shiplate Slait
Shiplate Slait is a protected scientific site in Somerset covering about 34 hectares with grasslands, small woodland patches, and wet ground areas. The site sits on limestone and dolomite rocks that create unique soil conditions for rare plants such as Somerset hair-grass, dwarf sedge, and spring cinquefoil.
The land was formerly part of a larger farming area and retained its rural character. Three bowl barrows from the Neolithic or Bronze Age periods reveal thousands of years of human activity, possibly for burial or ceremonial uses in ancient times.
The terrain is flat and easy to walk across, with footpaths threading through the different habitats. Visitors should stay on marked trails, avoid picking plants, and refrain from disturbing wildlife to help preserve the rare habitats and ancient monuments.
The site contains three ancient bowl barrows, one measuring about 80 feet (24 meters) across but only about 4 feet (1.2 meters) high, making it easy to overlook. These subtle mounds hold considerable archaeological value and reveal how early people shaped this landscape thousands of years ago.
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