Landslips

Looking towards the Malvern Hills at this point, the ground immediately below the path is very hummocky. The hummocks are landslips.

During periods of wet weather, some of the water that percolates through the limestone saturates the clay. The water weakens the clay, and makes it heavier with the consequence that the clay become mobilised, and slides down the slope.

New landslip

Bredon Hill, like the edge of the Cotswold Escarpment to the south-west has a history of landslips. Most of them in recent times seem to have occurred above the villages of Bredon’s Norton and Woollas Hall, on this western flank of the hill.

Sometimes when complete failure of the slip occurs, usually associated with cloudbursts, material is washed down-slope and can cause damage.

A landslip is currently developing above Bredon’s Norton. It has only developed in the last 10 years and now has the classic ‘horseshoe shape’ associated with such phenomena.

Towards the King and Queen Stones

Follow the track downhill towards Task 11 site at the King and Queen Stones. The stones can be well hidden downslope in the wooded area to the right of the path.

Task 10 question

What triggers landslips on Bredon Hill?

a) Earthquakes
b) Limestone dissolving
c) Heavy traffic on the M5
d) Water in the clay