NORTHUMBERLAND WILDLIFE TRUST
Nearest Town: Craster
OS Map: NU226172 (OS 50 000 Sheet 81)
This 5.9ha SNCI is a former quarry in the Acre Limestone with features of geological interest such as faulting and minor folds.
Location and access: The site is 4.5km west of Craster, beside the railway line. Car parking is near the limery without obstructing access on the farm tracks. If possible, check with occupier of the limery. To get there, take the minor road connecting the B1340 and B1339. West of the level-crossing turn south into a rough lane marked ‘Limery’. Enter the quarry on foot straight on past the house, following the signs after the gate. Please do not approach the kilns for safety reasons. Note - Dogs are prohibited on this site.
This former quarry in the Acre Limestone has features of geological interest such as faulting and minor folds. The ponds around the edge of the site contain water plantain, bulrush and bur-reed, and are used by coots and moorhens, with frogs and smooth newts also present. Dragonflies such as the common darter and emerald damselfly use the ponds and open grassland. Tufted duck, little grebe, mute swan, greylag, grey heron, sparrow hawk, and willow warbler can be seen at the reserve. Common mammals include stoats, moles and shrews. The grassland is typical of limestone spoil and contains species such as quaking grass, bulbous buttercup, early purple orchid and mouse-eared hawkweed.