| Until the 1920’s the area on which the Claypits now stand was farmed for centuries.
Clay extraction: In the 1920’s clay extraction began leaving several deep pits in the process. In 1965 this work ceased and the area was left to mature.
Recent history: For the last 25 years much controversy and debate has surrounded the pits. Ownership has changed hands a number of times as several applications for landfill were made and rejected.
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Following a number of studies, SSSI status was given to area 3 in 1979, then areas 1 and 2 in 1990. More recently all areas outside the SSSI have been noted as SBI’s, grade A (Site of Biological Importance). In 1996 Rixton became a Local Nature Reser0ve (LNR).
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