 The mere originated as a detached mass of glacial ice melted in situ towards the end of the last ice age.Notable animal species include the Hairy Dragonfly "Brachytron pratense", Variable Damselfly "Coenagrion pulchellum" and a rare caddisfly, "Potomophylax rotundipennis".Rare plants for the area include Tufted Sedge "Carex elata" and Bog Myrtle "Myrica gale".