Lydford Gorge (
National Trust) is a dramatic feature of the river at Lydford on the edge of the
Dartmoor National Park; it is a
gorge near
Lydford on the River Lyd, which is the deepest in South West England. It was formed by the process of
river capture, where the start of a nearby river eroded backwards until its origin met the Lyd, diverting its course into the second channel. because of its complex geology and also because of the
moss and
liverwort species recorded here.
Biology Ancient woodland is found on the valley sides of the gorge where tree species include
pedunculate oak,
ash,
hazel and
holly. Herbaceous woodland species include
wood anemone,
woodruff,
bluebell and
bilberry. In wet areas,
opposite-leaved golden saxifrage has been recorded.
Moss species include
Mnium stellare and
Isothecium holtii (genus
Isothecium)
. Liverwort species include
Trichocolea tomentella. Lichen species include
Sticta dufourii that occurs on damp rocks. Bird species in this protected area include
raven,
buzzard,
wood warbler,
grey wagtail and
dipper.
Otters have been recorded in the river Lyd.
Geology Rock strata exposed in Lydford gorge include different layers of
slate from the
Devonian period including the
Liddaton Formation and the
Whitelady Formation. Thrusts during the
Variscan orogeny have caused major dislocations in the rock successions here. ==See also==