View source for Old Bow and Old Ham Mines

{{Short description|Protected area in Gloucestershire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox SSSI
|image=
|image_caption=
|name=Old Bow And Old Ham Mines
|aos=Gloucestershire
|interest=Biological
|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|SO579088}}
|coordinates = {{coord|51.776729|-2.610882|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
|area=40.3 [[hectare]]
|notifydate=1998
|enref=2000187
}}
[[Image:Kleine Hufeisennase cropped.jpg|thumb|Example - Lesser Horseshoe Bat ''(Rhinolophus hipposideros)'']]
[[Image:Grand Rhinolophe.jpg|thumb|Example - Greater Horseshoe Bat ''(Rhinolophus ferrumequinum)'']]
'''Old Bow And Old Ham Mines''' ({{gbmapping|SO579088}}) is a {{convert|40.3|ha|adj=on}} [[biological Site of Special Scientific Interest]] in [[Gloucestershire]], [[SSSI notification|notified]] in 1998.<ref name="NE citation">[http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/sssi_details.cfm?sssi_id=2000187 Natural England SSSI information on the citation]</ref><ref>[http://www.fdean.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=6464&tt=graphic Forest of Dean District Local Plan Review, adopted November 2005, Appendix D 'Nature Conservation Site Designations Within the Forest of Dean District', Sites of Special Scientific Interest]</ref>
==Location and habitat==
The mines comprise one of a series of Sites of Special Scientific Interest within the [[Forest of Dean]] and [[Wye Valley]] (Gloucestershire and [[Monmouthshire]]).  These sites support (between them) important breeding and hibernation roosts for [[Lesser horseshoe bat|lesser]] and [[greater horseshoe bat]]s.  This is of European importance.
Other sites in the group in Gloucestershire (all of which are SSSIs) include the breeding sites of [[Blaisdon Hall]], [[Caerwood And Ashberry Goose House]], [[Dean Hall Coach House & Cellar SSSI|Dean Hall Coach House & Cellar]] and [[Sylvan House Barn]].  Hibernation sites include [[Buckshraft Mine & Bradley Hill Railway Tunnel]], [[Devil's Chapel Scowles]], [[Westbury Brook Ironstone Mine]] and [[Wigpool Ironstone Mine]].<ref name="NE citation"/>
A ring of iron-ore bearing [[Carboniferous]] [[Limestone]] in the Forest of Dean provides the focus of ancient and recent mines.  These provide excellent hibernation sites for bats and the Old Bow and Old Ham mines are made up of a far-reaching area of underground workings.  These are on the west side of the Forest of Dean and are near [[Clearwell]].
The notified site includes parts of four mine complexes being Clearwell, Old Bow, Lambsquay and Old Ham. There are inter-connections. There are entrances at the grilled (and padlocked where necessary) shafts at the edge of the outcrop. The length of the tunnels and workings is estimated to be some 30 kilometres.<ref name="NE citation"/>
The deciduous woodlands and sheltered valleys of the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley provide a good feeding area. There are three units of assessment and unit 2 and unit 3 are woodland shelter areas on the western side.<ref name="NE citation"/>
The citations for the series of sites provide common information.
==Bat Species==
The site is mostly used by lesser horseshoe bats, but a small number of greater horseshoe bats also use the site.  It is recorded as regularly holding over 300 lesser horseshoe bats. Other recorded bat species which use the site for hibernation are [[Daubenton's bat]], [[Brandt's bat]], [[Natterer's bat]], [[whiskered bat]] and the [[brown long-eared bat|long-eared bat]].<ref name="NE citation"/>
The Horseshoe bats hibernate in the caves and tunnels in the winter months and move between various parts of the mine complexes in spring and autumn. Thus they are able to locate a suitable microclimate (temperature and humidity). This is a prime site because of the size and depth.<ref name="NE citation"/>
==Clearwell caves==
Commercial and recreational use continues in part of the [[Clearwell Caves|Clearwell Cave system]].  There are 'show' caves with stalactites.  Crystal formations of haematite, dolomite and calcite occur.  Natural pigments such as [[ochre]] are mined by the mineral gale owner along with small quantities of iron ore and rock samples.<ref name="NE citation"/>
==Image gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Myotis daubentonii.jpg|Example - Daubenton's bat ''(Myotis daubentoni)''
Image:Myotis brandti.jpg|Example - Brandt's bat ''(Myotis brandtii)''
Image:XN Myotis Nattereri 96.jpg|Example - Natterer's bat ''(Myotis nattereri)''
Image:Fledermaus (Schmallenberg 4).jpg|Example - whiskered Bbt ''(Myotis mystacinus)''
Image:17.16b.JRA.jpg|Example - long-eared bat ''(Plecotus auritus)''
</gallery>
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
==SSSI Source==
* [http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/sssi_details.cfm?sssi_id=2000187 Natural England SSSI information on the citation]
* [http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/unitlist.cfm?sssi_id=2000187 Natural England SSSI information on the Old Bow And Old Ham Mines units]
==External links==
{{Listen
| filename = Keoka_Lesser_Horseshoe_1.ogg
| title    = Lesser horseshoe bat recorded on a heterodyne bat detector set to 107 kHz
}}
{{stack|{{Listen
| filename = Keoka_Daubenton_1.ogg
| title    = Daubenton's bat recorded on a heterodyne bat detector set to 40 kHz
}}}}
* [http://www.naturalengland.org.uk Natural England] (SSSI information)
{{SSSIs Gloucs biological}}
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified in 1998]]
[[Category:Forest of Dean]]