Warton Crag

Warton Crag nature reserve is as exciting to explore as it is to look at from a distance; but be careful, visitors have been known to get lost in the woods! The reserve is home to an outstanding collection of butterflies as well as some plants that are nationally uncommon and the best display of lichens on rocks in Lancashire. The limestone ledges on the south face within the LNR display plants well adapted to the free-draining, shallow soils. Three vetches, Horseshoe Vetch (nearing its northern limit), Kidney Vetch and Bird's-foot- trefoil, produce a spectacular display of yellow in May and June while the yellow flowers of Rock Rose and purple mats of Thyme are a fine sight in summer. In spite of their low stature, many of these plants have deep roots, descending perhaps a metre down into cracks in the rocks. This enables them to stay green for longer in times of drought, when the grasses have all turned brown. Some of the level terraces on the Crag have outcrops of limestone exposed as pavement, a rare habitat in which slabs of rock are separated by deep cracks called grikes; notable species include Rigid Buckler-fern, Pale St. John's Wort and Angular Solomon's-seal. Unfortunately, the waterworn slabs are in demand for rock gardens, and much pavement around here has, in the past, been irreparably damaged. April and May are the most spectacular months for the woodlands when the ground is carpeted with a mosaic of flowers; Wood Anemones, Bluebells, Primroses, Early Purple Orchids, Violets, Pignut and Wood Sorrel. Strickland Wood, with its moist, shady conditions, is an excellent habitat for ferns. The fronds of Hart's-tongue can be seen emerging from the moss-covered boulders, while Male Fern and Broad Buckler-fern prefer deeper soils. The scrub, which covers so much of the Crag (more now than for many centuries, since, in the past, grazing maintained open grassland), is rich in variety. In addition to the abundant Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Hazel and Rose are Buckthorn, Spindle, Privet, Dogwood and Juniper and the introduced Cotoneasters. All these are readily identified in the autumn when they are in fruit. Warton Crag reserve is an excellent site for visiting lepidopterists -- butterfly and moth enthusiasts (but please no collecting). The warm, sunny corners attract woodland edge butterflies such as fritillaries. Pearl-bordered Fritillary appears in May, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in June and, in July, the nationally threatened High Brown Fritillary. The caterpillars of these butterflies feed on Violets, of which four species are found on the reserve. Northern Brown Argus is associated with Rock-rose and Bird's-foot-trefoil is the foodplant for the Dingy Skipper and the Green Hairstreak.