OPEN DAY – SUNDAY 3RD JULY 2022 – 11AM TO 4PM
HOE GRANGE QUARRY
The first Butterfly Nature Reserve in
Derbyshire which is situated at the
edge of the Peak District at Longcliffe
(SK222/560) in a disused limestone
quarry, the area being 4.75 hectares.
It is as a result of a Joint Venture with
the Owners, Longcliffe Quarries Ltd, and
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust whereby Butterfly
Conservation East Midlands are providing
habitat advice and volunteers to plant
butterfly friendly plants and also they carry
out a full butterfly transect on site, which
was started in 2015.
To date nearly 14,000 butterflies have
been recorded in 29 species, including
3 BAP species (Wall Brown, Dingy Skipper
and Small Heath) – there have also been
sightings of two Peak District speciality
species – the Dark Green Fritillary and the
Peak District version of the Brown Argus.
There is a very large colony of Common
Blues there due to the fact that birds foot
trefoil has colonised the whole quarry floor
since the quarry was left to wildlife in the
1970’s. Over 100 macro moths have
been recorded at the site and 16 species
of dragonfly.
The fourth Open Day for Derbyshire’s first
Butterfly Reserve has been organised
for Sunday the 3rd of July 2022 from
11am to 4pm.
Members of Butterfly Conservation East
Midlands, including Ray Walker (Hon
Warden), together with Pat and Ken Orpe
(Derbyshire Butterfly Recorder) will be
able to show visitors around this restored
limestone quarry where already
29 species of butterflies have been recorded
including Dark Green Fritillary and the
Peak District version of the Brown Argus.
It will also be possible to see the work that
many volunteers have done to enhance
the habitat so as to increase the biodiversity
at the site.
A three minute film about the delights of East Midlands Butterfly Conservation’s Hoe Grange Quarry Reserve and its special butterflies, wildlife and plants.