About the reserve

Abandoned in the 1930s, this former magnesian limestone quarry is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, nationally recognised for the plant life it supports. Unusual species abound on the thin limestone soils, such as blue moor grass, moonwort, autumn gentian and fairy flax, and there are a range of orchid species including pyramidal, common spotted, fragrant and bee orchid, but most significant are the large numbers of rare dark red helleborines. The site attracts large numbers of butterflies such as dingy skipper, common blue, small heath, ringlet, small copper and one of the county’s largest colonies of the rare Durham brown argus butterfly, best seen in June and July. There are also many species of moth, such as six-spot burnet, wood tiger and humming bird hawk moth. The quarry attracts both farmland and woodland bird species and is well known as the site where European bee-eaters successfully bred in 2002. Only the third breeding attempt in the UK.