Cumbria Wildlife Trust has taken on two nature reserves in South Cumbria.
The charity has taken over the management of Clawthorpe Fell National Nature Reserve and Holme Park Quarry Local Nature Reserve.
The reserves, near Burton-in-Kendal, sit next to each other on the western edge of a large expanse of limestone pavement – one of the UK’s rarest and most vulnerable wildlife habitats.
Stephen Trotter, chief executive of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: “Limestone pavements are fantastic and precious places. Their dramatically sculptural and beautiful rock formations were carved by ice thousands of years ago and have been shaped by rainwater ever since.
“The distinctive plants which grow on them include a plethora of orchids, ferns and other wild flowers – and they are the natural inspiration for rock gardens.
“Sadly, these habitats have been threatened by, and much reduced due to their removal for use in gardens and water features.
“Cumbria Wildlife Trust has been looking after and protecting several unique limestone areas since the 1970s and so we’re delighted to protect and look after these sites, thanks to Aggregate Industries and Natural England.”
Pete Jones, reserves officer for Cumbria Wildlife Trust, added: “Clawthorpe Fell and Holme Park Quarry are two fantastic areas of Carboniferous limestone pavement, each of which has their own special features.
“We’re very grateful to Aggregate Industries for enabling us to take on these lovely nature reserves and are looking forward to the rewarding job of managing them for wildlife. “We’ll be working closely with local people and contractors to help prevent scrub (small trees and shrubs) from dominating, and removing invasive plants, such as the garden escapee cotoneaster – it spreads so quickly and densely that it prevents the specialist plants that we want to encourage from growing underneath it.”
Clawthorpe Fell was designated a National Nature Reserve in 1976 and until now has been managed by Natural England. Holme Park Quarry Local Nature Reserve was created in 2000, after local residents succeeded in getting it officially designated.
The mainland area of Clawthorpe Fell can be visited at any time, and a footpath runs through the edge of it from Clawthorpe Road to Curwen Woods beyond. However, the island lies entirely within the active quarry and there is no public access.
Holme Park Quarry Nature Reserve is open at all times and there is a series of permissive paths around the site and to the viewpoint. Parking is very limited here, with a layby for two cars only. You could visit as part of a longer walk from Burton-in-Kendal or other areas of Hutton Roof.
