About the reserve

Hadfields Quarry Nature Reserve, in the beautiful Hope Valley, is a patchwork of species-rich grassland, small-scale wetland, woodland and bare rock in and around a disused limestone quarry.

To one side of the reserve is a working quarry and cement works, while to the other side lies a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The waters on the quarry floor are unusually neutral for a limestone area. As a result, Hadfields Quarry contains a population of palmate newts, which are more usually found in the acidic gritstone areas of Derbyshire.

The reserve also supports an interesting range of plants and animals. Plants include mossy saxifrage, ploughmans spikenard, wall whitlow grass and wetland plants. Among the animals on the reserve are glow worm, dingy skipper butterfly, green tiger beetle and various water beetles and dragonflies.

Hadfields Quarry is leased to the Trust by Hope Cement and managed by the Trust on their behalf. Please note that because of the fragility of the habitats and the dangers of rock fall, a special permit is required for this reserve.