[I]t’s 40 years since the outstanding area of limestone pavement at Hutton Roof Crags near Burton-in-Kendal was given to the care of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, and supporters of the Trust gathered recently at this stunning nature reserve to celebrate the landmark anniversary.
Dedicated members, volunteers and friends of Cumbria Wildlife Trust joined staff and Honorary Wardens Charles and Ann Dale at the celebratory event. Ann Dale (pictured front, far right) who lives nearby in Burton-in-Kendal, said: “It was a real pleasure to share this key birthday with so many of our committed members and hardworking volunteers and supporters. At this nature reserve we are fortunate enough to have some of the best limestone pavement in Britain. As well as being a wonderfully distinctive-looking landscape, it’s also home to many unusual flowering plants and on our walk round the nature reserve we saw some lovely early purple orchids, as well as the delicate angular Solomon’s-seal and lily-of-the-valley.”
Limestone pavement is so-called because the surface patterning of the bare grey rocks resembles paving blocks. However Hutton Roof Crags Nature Reserve boasts a range of other habitats as well, including woodland and heathland, and offers wonderful panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. In addition to specialist plants, it’s also a great place to see butterflies, including brimstone, green hairstreak and the eye-catching fritillaries, and birds such as willow warbler and skylark. Ann describes the nature reserve as “a total joy!”
Hutton Roof Crags Nature Reserve is made up of two areas of land known as Lancelot Clark Storth and Burton Fell, and covers nearly 100 hectares. It is open to the public and there are a number of footpaths through the nature reserve. For more details, go to www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/hutton-roof-crags where you will also find a downloadable audio trail.
