Salthill Quarry Local Nature Reserve

Salthill Quarry is designated a SSSI by virtue of its geological formations. It also has great botanical interest as it displays a mixture of vegetation from the earliest stages of soil development on limestone, from limestone grassland, which is rare in Lancashire, through to woodland. At the southeast corner of the reserve, the soil is at its earliest stage of development and supports a sparse vegetation of plants well adapted to the harsh conditions. Bee Orchid, Carline Thistle and Milkwort can be seen growing here in June. You can see Autumn Gentian (or Felwort) flowering later in the year in August and September. On the more established soils you will be able to see Cowslips in the spring. The summer sees a colourful display of plants such as Bird's-foot-trefoil, Wild Strawberry, Common Knapweed, Lady's Bedstraw, Scabious and Agrimony. You may also see the delicate blue flowers of Harebell growing on the shallower soils and edges of exposed rocks. Grassland is not the only habitat you can see on the reserve. Ash and Hawthorn trees dominate the woodland. At the edge of the wood and invading the grassland are numerous wild roses; Dog-rose, Field-rose and Sweet-briar. Robin's Pin-cushion Galls caused by a Gall Wasp on wild rose are most apparent in September. Among the butterflies, Painted Ladies are at their peak number in summer having migrated here in spring from northern Africa. Unmistakable is the common blue, which is usually seen flying on hot summer days. Other insects to look out for in summer are Common Green and Field Grasshoppers and the distinctive Red and Black Six-spot Burnet Moth. If you are keen to see birds you can easily recognise Blue Tits and Great Tits, but there are also Whitethroats, Linnets and Goldfinches. While a visit in summer keeps you busy looking at the butterflies and flora, if you stay until twilight you can hear the swifts and you may glimpse the Pipistrelle Bats that roost in the area. The Kestrel also makes use of the reserve for feeding on the Wood Mice and voles. Fossilized rocks are abundant in several areas of the reserve. The fossilised tubes that look like stacks of polo mints are parts of Crinoids (sea lillies) and are understood to be 340 million years old. Those lying loose on the ground may be collected but hammering rock faces or removing large pieces of rock is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN without written permission from the Trust. With a view across to Pendle Hill, a special stone seat has been installed on the site. The 'Crinoid Seat' was designed by Fiona Bowley and includes her carved panels depicting the crinoids as they would have lived under the sea. The actual construction of the seat is the work of local craftsman, Jon Fenton.