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Nearest
town: Carnforth
Grid reference: SD 493 728, Landranger 97, Explorer
OL7 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. Warblers
are an outstanding feature of the reserve in early summer, when Chiffchaffs, Willow
and Garden Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats fill the air with song. There
are still a few Tree Pipits; but the Yellowhammers and Linnets, which used to
be so conspicuous, have practically vanished. Management
The woodland will be maintained with some coppicing to encourage the ground flora,
including Violets for the fritillaries. There is a continuous programme of management
on the limestone grassland involving clearance of scrub and Bracken. Some of the
scrub will be left as shelter for the butterflies, birds and other wildlife. Light
grazing in summer and winter has been introduced to encourage a more varied flora
and reduce the vigour of Bracken by trampling. Regular meetings with the managers
of the other parts of the reserve are held to discuss management and exchange
ideas.
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