Hoe Grange Quarry

This disused limestone quarry is owned by Longcliffe Quarries.

The site has not been worked since the early 90’s which means that nature has had plenty of time to develop. For a site of just short of 5 hectares it packs in a good mix of habitats.

Site Records

Update July 2026

For a few months during 2026, Hoe Grange Nature Reserve was shut for Longcliffe Quarries Ltd (the site owner) to carry out required safety work. The site is now available again for Butterfly Conservation East Midlands to use.

Why was the site shut?

The site closure was all about safety – Longcliffe has carried out this work to ensure the site is safe for visitors. After a rockfall at the beginning of 2026, unstable rock faces were identified across the site, and the company then consulted with external geotechnical experts. On their advice Longcliffe closed the site and went ahead with the agreed work to install ‘bunds’ or mounds of soil to contain any future rockfall and form a physical barrier to discourage access into any potentially unsafe areas. 95.5% of the footprint of the site was left undisturbed by this activity, other than the temporary tracks left by the machines installing the bunds.

Other options for making the site safe were considered. However, this was the best option for minimising disturbance and ensuring the site could be kept open into the future.

Longcliffe is committed to protecting and developing biodiversity across all its sites – working and former operational quarries. However, safety will always come first, and the company is confident that the area in which the bunds have been installed will quickly re-establish itself as an extension of the existing habitats in Hoe Grange Quarry. The material used is a low nutrient sub-soil which is the most suitable for encouraging wildflower development. Indeed, in visits during July, flowers were already being spotted growing in area areas traversed by the vehicles that installed the bunds.

What is the status now?

This work was completed in early July 2026, and the site was reopened for the reserve managers to access. Flora and fauna continue to thrive there and there is huge potential for it to continue to be a haven for biodiversity and in particular butterflies.

Welcome to Hoe Grange Quarry

Surrounding these is beautiful flower rich short limestone grassland whilst at the fringes of the quarry is taller grass and woodland, there are still areas of bare ground which provide an ideal place for insects to sunbathe. There is even a disused dew pond which we hope to restore in time.

The quarry is particularly of interest because of the number of diversity of butterflies which occur here. Volunteers from Butterfly Conservation Trust have been walking a weekly transect at Hoe Grange for a few years and their results are fantastic, they have recorded a total of 29 different species of butterfly.

We are working closely with Butterfly Conservation Trust to ensure that the site is managed in the best way as a future haven for butterflies.

Learn More

When to Visit

A long warm summers day to count the butterflies and the wild flowers

Know before you go

5 hectares – No entry fee – No dogs permitted except for assistance dogs

ENGAGEMENT, INFLUENCE & IMPACT AWARD

The Best Community Engagement Project award appreciates projects where sites are actively engaging their local communities and achieving positive results. Longcliffe Quarries Ltd was revealed as the winner for its ‘Butterfly Conservation’ project at Hoe Grange Quarry. It was described as a very good example of a genuinely collaborative approach by the company in working with the community in developing the project.

Last Event

06

JULY 2024