The former quarry is owned by Longcliffe Quarries and has been gradually returning to nature. For a moderately small site it packs in a lot of different habitats and therefore a great variety of wildlife.

There are some lovely areas of limestone grassland bursting with flowers, some small ponds which provide a place for frogs, toads and newts to breed and areas of marshy grassland which will be full of insects once the summer is here.

It’s a great place for butterflies, common blue, dark green fritillary and orange tip butterflies are all found here, along with the less common small heath and dingy skipper butterflies. There are plenty of moths here too including the shaded broad-bar and cinnabar moths.

Areas of woodland and scrub provide ideal nesting sites for blackcap and whitethroat whilst skylarks breed in the long grassland.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust plans to survey the site in detail this summer so no doubt more plants and animals will be discovered. Julia Gow, reserves officer said ‘The surveys will help inform our plans for future reserve management and I am really looking forward to getting to know the reserve.’

In order to maintain the flower rich grassland the Trust plan to graze the site with sheep in late summer.

The new reserve can be viewed from the High Peak Trail.

Longcliffe Quarries prides itself on being an environmentally sensitive and conservation minded local independent company. They see this partnership as an opportunity to both offset their quarrying activities and make a positive contribution to nature conservation and biodiversity in the local area.