About the event

With an industrial history spanning over 400 years, this site is arguably as important culturally as it is for wildlife. Originally mined for its lead and later quarried for valuable limestone (until 1994), the reserve now comprises areas at different stages of re-colonisation. Woodland has established in the oldest parts of the quarry whilst bare rock still remains in the most recently worked – scan the open quarry faces for nesting ravens and raptors. In summer, the lime-rich soils create grassland filled with colour, where many species of orchid flourish alongside other rare and threatened plant species such as moonwort and pale toadflax. A staggering variety of rare invertebrates (butterflies, bees, flies, moths and beetles) inhabit the bare gravely ground and grassland areas, including mountain bumblebee, grayling and belted clearwing moth. The songs of spotted flycatcher, redstart and blackcap accompany a walk through the woodland and, in the evening, the characteristic ‘twit twoo’ of tawny owls can be heard. 

Did you know?

Minera Quarry is a renowned geological site. A 440 million-year-old seabed can be seen just beyond the pond and fossils can be seen throughout – look closely at the boulders about 100m from the entrance on the main track.