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Clints QuarryA Limestone Nature Reserve
Located
North of Egremont,
Copeland in
West Cumbria.
This is an industrial environment located
on the rural-urban fringe
[landfill, cemetery, 2 main roads]
Pressures of littering and tipping exist
because it is perceived by many as
abandoned, unoccupied or uncared for.
Access is from
the minor road
off of the A5086
A gorge was
excavated
through the
limestone to
access the
central quarry,
this now acts
as a natural
barrier
Quarrying has existed on the site for 450 years.
Entrance
cutting
Deciduous
Woodland
Limestone
spoil ridges
Vertical
Cliff
maps
Limestone
formed
about 350
million years
ago
Since mining ceased in 1930 the spoil heaps on the quarry floor
have become a haven for wild flowers, especially the orchid.
Arranged in a fan radiating outwards from the entrance gorge
the smaller unusable material was piled up in long ridges.
Alkaline in nature and well drained this unique environment
attracts a diverse biodiversity.
Between the
ridges the
level is at
the water
table,
possibly why
quarrying
was
eventually
abandoned.
The leads to
a Carr type
environment
with open
bushy trees.
Willow
In other areas it has been managed to keep the limestone open
and encourage wild flowers.
Not every channel is
saturated, this would have
been the disposal route
for the limestone blocks.
Therefore, contrasting
micro habitats exist.
Species
Quaking Grass
Hoary Plantain
Mouse-ear hawkweed
Wild Thyme
All safe from the
agricultural practices
that has led to their
decline across Cumbria
Largely on the well-
drained ridges
Hawkweed
Geographical Link
- “Explore the drier slopes
of the spoil heaps to find
wild strawberry, ox-eye
daisy, centaury, mouse-
eared hawkweed, bird's-
foot trefoil and
knapweed.”
- Cumbria Wildlife
Website
Orchids
Tway blade
LOCAL - Pyramid
LOCAL - Bee orchid
Northern Marsh
Common spotted orchids
Bee
Spotted
Pyramid
Which
is
which?
Geographical Link
- ‘Damp conditions
between the spoil heaps
are ideal places to find
northern marsh and
common spotted orchid.’
- Cumbria Wildlife
Website
- [Maintaining suitable
levels of moisture is
therefore essential]
Pond
and
Cliff
Palmate Newts [endangered
SSSI], Sticklebacks and pond
snails have colonised the 4
ponds
[hydrosere] Kestrels and ravens the cliffs
Note the natural succession [Lithosere]
Note how on some cliff sections the canopy is under developed
Management regimes keeps the cliffs at plagioclimax
Since 1930 when quarrying
ceased the area has been
left to regenerate
Owned by the British Steel
and Lord Egremont, as a
source of limestone, it was
threatened as landfill in the
1980s and purchased by
the Cumbria Wildlife trust in
1984.
WoodlandTo the East and South
Ash and Sycamore are
the Canopy species
Hawthorn and Hazel are
shrub level species rising to
dominate where there is no
competition
Plenty of other species exist -
Holly, Beech, Birch
Ground layer
Harts tongue fern
Dogs Mercury
Herb Robert
Red Campion
Birds - Robin
Long tailed tit
Goldcrest
Woodland
extends beyond
the quarry edge
Non Parasitic Climbers -
Ivy
Honeysuckle
Both evergreen, utilising
the trees structure to
maintain efficiency[or the
vertical rock.]
Animals Rabbits once naturally colonized the area.
No longer present. Without grazing the grass would grow
to shade the meadow flowers. Jacobs sheep are introduced late
in the year to keep grass down but cannot access the lower slopes
below the vertical cliffs.
Working Party - December 2013
What evidence exists of this continuing
management practice?
So why an SSSI?
Palmate Newt Conservation status
Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act,
1981
Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site
1166 Great crested newt Triturus cristatus
This disused quarry in north-west England contains several
pools that support a large great crested newt Triturus cristatus
population which has shown evidence of recruitment in recent
years. Terrestrial habitat associated with the breeding areas is
quarry spoil, early successional vegetation and surrounding
pasture
Synthesis
3 environments
Industrial legacy
85 year succession
Mangement to maintain
limestone plagioclimax
Protects Great Crested
Newt and promotes
diversity.
CreditsPhotography largely Mark Ollis
Species information Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Remaining photography via Google images
- search Clints Quarry
SSSI information from their site
An excellent series of Podcasts and
accompanying map is provided by CWT