If we look closely at the map of the geology of the Parish, we will find Alluvial deposits of the present flood plain of the River Trent extending almost as far as the railway line. There is also a narrow strip of Alluvium stretching west on each side of the Barton Brook. From this point, to the 54m. contour, we have the sands and gravels of the First River Terrace which represents an earlier flood plain created at a time when the Trent was very much larger than it is today. Proceeding further north-west we come across Fluvio-Glacial Gravels deposited when the melt-waters of the ice sheets occupied the whole of the width of the Trent valley at the end of the last Ice Age. Much of the village of Barton is situated on these deposits. Most of the rest of the Parish consists of Keuper Marl, a reddish/chocolate coloured deposit of the Triassic age. Patches of Boulder Clay can be found on top of the higher parts of the Keuper Marl. This is material which was deposited by the moving ice sheets. What an amazing variety we have on our doorstep !
Note. :-
Readers not already acquainted with Barton under Needwood may find the following Ordnance Survey and Geological Maps helpful.
Ordnance Survey Landranger Map :- " Derby & Burton upon Trent
" Sheet 128.
Pathfinder Maps:- SK 21/31 (873), SK 01/11 (872) & SK 02/12 (851).
Explorer Map :- " The National Forest " Sheet 245.
Geological Survey :- One Inch Map ", "Sheet 140, ( Burton ).
Ordnance Survey maps of the Barton Under Needwood area can be purchased here.