Nearest town: Clitheroe
Grid reference: SD 745 434, Landranger 103, Explorer OL41

Abandoned as a working quarry in the early 1900's, Cross Hill is a good example of natural change on a man-made site and has since become an exceptional refuge for wildlife. Once quarrying ceased, the thin soils and exposed rock became revegetated through stages of succession from flower-rich grasslands, to hawthorn scrub and finally woodland. Examples of each stage can still be seen.

Visit in June to see the fine display of wildflowers in the main quarry. The quarry floor, made up of mounds of spoil, is rich in lime and provides perfect growing conditions for many limestone grassland flowers. Fairy Flax, the Lemon Flowered Mouse-ear Hawkweed and Lady's Bedstraw can be found along with fragrant herbs such as Wild Thyme and Marjoram.

In the eastern end of the reserve, another quarry was infilled in the 1970's and heavy clay used as a capping causing the grassland to be damp throughout the year with Hard Rush, Soft Rush, Reed Canary-grass and Willows flourishing.

In the dense shade under the scrub, ivy forms thick carpets covering the hollows and mounds. Most woodland flowers need more light and Cuckoo-pint (Lords-and-ladies), Dog's Mercury, Lesser Celandine, Hedge Woundwort and Wild Rose are found closer to the paths. Bluebells, Wood Anemone, Woodruff and Wood Sanicle can be found in the more open, undisturbed western woods towards Brungerley Park, which were never quarried.

The flower-rich grasslands of the main quarry attract a number of butterflies. The Common Blue, distinctive through its bright colour, Orange Tip, in which only the male has orange wing-tips, and Meadow Browns are frequent residents on this site. Bird activity can be observed all year round at Cross Hill. In spring the Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff return from warmer climates with Grey Wagtails and Sand Martins very evident from April. The river provides feeding ground for birds such as Herons, which are often seen along the river, and Kingfishers throughout the year.

For further information contact:

John Lamb
East Lancashire Conservation Officer

tel: 01772 324129
email: jlamb@lancswt.org.uk

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Other Reserves ... Reserves Home Astley Moss Aughton Woods Barnaby's Sands & Burrows Marsh Boilton, Nab, Red Scar & Tunbrook Woods Booth's Plantation Cop Lane Cross Hill Quarry Croston Marsh Cuerden Valley Park Dean Wood Fleetwood Marsh Foxhill Bank Freeman's Pasture Freshfield Dune Heath Gathurst Wharves Haskayne Cutting Heysham Moss Heysham Nature Reserve Howick Hall Wood Longworth Clough Lord's Lot Bog Mere Sands Wood Moor Piece Moston Fairway Over Kellet Pond Pleasington Old Hall Wood & Wildlife Garden Salthill Quarry Seaforth Nature Reserve Summerseat Nature Reserve Upper Coldwell Reservoir Warton Crag Wigan Flashes Willow Farm Wood

Location
Cross Hill Quarry is situated north of Clitheroe along the Ribble Way and is continuous with Brungerley Park. Approach from the Waddington Road (through Brungerley Park) or from West Bradford Road (opposite the chimney of the Castle Cement Works). Cars can be parked on the West Bradford Road.

Cycle Route

Access
Public footpaths pass through the LNR from the Waddington and West Bradford Roads and the Ribble Way also passes through the reserve. You may visit without a permit at any time but please beware of rocks falling from the steep faces in the main quarry. Any climbing is strictly forbidden without written permission from the Trust. Cycling/mountain biking is not permitted.

Status
This 9 ha site is leased by the Trust from Ribble Valley Borough Council and was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1989. It is a County Biological Heritage Site, of importance for wildlife and also a Regionally Important Geological Site.