Jump to content

Bishop Middleham Quarry: Difference between revisions

Add links
Coordinates: 54°41′16″N 1°29′9″W / 54.68778°N 1.48583°W / 54.68778; -1.48583
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m De-link common terms (by script) per MOS:OVERLINK
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Disused quarry in County Durham, England}}
{{Geobox|Protected Area
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
<!-- *** Name section *** -->
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Bishop Middleham Quarry
| name = Bishop Middleham Quarry
<!-- *** Category *** -->
| iucn_category =
| category = '''[[Site of Special Scientific Interest]]'''<br />'''[[Nature Reserve]]'''
<!-- images -->
| category_local = Site of Special Scientific Interest
| category_iucn =
| photo = Geograph.org.uk - 1219945.jpg
| photo_caption = Disused quarry at Bishop Middleham
<!-- *** Image *** -->
<!-- map -->
| image = Geograph.org.uk - 1219945.jpg| image_size =
| image_caption = Disused quarry at Bishop Middleham
| map = United Kingdom County Durham
| map_image =
<!-- *** Country etc. *** -->
| country = England
| map_size = 243
| map_caption = Site of Special Scientific Interest
| region = [[North East England|North East]]
| region_type = Region
| relief = 1
<!-- location -->
| district = [[County Durham]]
| location = [https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002965%27 MAGiC MaP]
<!-- *** Geography *** -->
| area_unit = ha
| nearest_city =
| nearest_town = [[Sedgefield|Sedgefield, County Durham]]
| area = 8.6
| coordinates = {{coord|54|41|16|N|1|29|9|W|display=inline,title}}
| area_round = 2
| coords_ref =
| location = {{gbmappingsmall|NZ332326}}
<!-- stats -->
| lat_d =54
| lat_m =41
| area_ha = 8.6
<!-- dates & info -->
| lat_s =16
| lat_NS = N
| established = 1968 / 1982
| governing_body = [[Durham Wildlife Trust]]
| long_d =1
| administrator =
| long_m =29
| long_s =9
| operator =
| long_EW = W
| owner =
<!-- website, embedded -->
| elevation =
| website = [https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1002965&SiteName=Bishop%20Middleham%20Quarry&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= Bishop Middleham Quarry SSSI]
| length =
| length_orientation =
| embedded =
| width =
| width_orientation =
| highest =
| highest location =
| highest_lat_d =
| highest_lat_m =
| highest_lat_s =
| highest_lat_NS =
| highest_long_d =
| highest_long_m =
| highest_long_s =
| highest_long_EW =
| highest_elevation =
| lowest =
| lowest_location =
| lowest_lat_d =
| lowest_lat_m =
| lowest_lat_s =
| lowest_lat_NS =
| lowest_long_d =
| lowest_long_m =
| lowest_long_s =
| lowest_long_EW =
| lowest_elevation =
<!-- *** Nature *** -->
| biome =
| biome_share =
| biome1 =
| biome1_share =
| geology =
| geology1 =
| plant =
| plant1 =
| animal =
| animal1 =
<!-- *** People *** -->
| established_type = Notification
| established = 1968 / 1982
| management_body = [[Durham Wildlife Trust]]
| visitation_year =
<!-- *** Free fields *** -->
| free_type = Area of Search
| free = [[List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in County Durham|County Durham]]
| free1_type = Interest
| free1 = Biological
<!-- *** Map section *** -->
| map =Durham outline map with UK (2009).png
| map_locator_x =
| map_locator_y =
| map_size = 243
| map_caption = Location of Bishop Middleham Quarry SSSI, Co Durham
| map_locator = County Durham
| map_first =
| map_alt= Map of England and Wales with a red dot representing the location of the Bishop Middleham Quarry SSSI, Co Durham
<!-- *** Website *** -->
| website = [http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1002965,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL Map of site]
}}
}}


'''Bishop Middleham Quarry''' is a disused quarry, about 4&nbsp;km north-west of [[Sedgefield]], [[County Durham]], [[England]]. Quarry-working here ceased in 1934, and the site has since been colonised by vegetation. The underlying rock is [[dolostone|magnesian limestone]] and this has had a strong influence in determining the range of plant and animal communities now found there.
'''Bishop Middleham Quarry''' is a disused quarry, about {{convert|4|km}} north-west of [[Sedgefield]], County Durham, England. Quarry-working here ceased in 1934, and the site has since been colonised by vegetation. The underlying rock is [[Magnesian Limestone]] and this has had a strong influence in determining the range of plant and animal communities now found there.


In 1968 the quarry was designated as a biological [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI). The SSSI boundaries were revised in 1982 to exclude areas which were no longer found to have high wildlife interest due to tipping and quarry reworking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002965.pdf|title=Bishop Middleham Quarry|publisher=[[English Nature]]|accessdate=18 July 2010}}</ref>
In 1968 the quarry was designated as a biological [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI). The SSSI boundaries were revised in 1982 to exclude areas which were no longer found to have high wildlife interest due to tipping and quarry reworking.
<ref name=SSSI_Citation>{{cite web
|url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1002965.pdf
|title=Bishop Middleham Quarry SSSI : Reasons for designating the SSSI status|publisher=Natural England |access-date= 1 March 2022}}</ref>


The site contains a variety of vegetation types including woodland, scrub, and several grassland communities. The most important part of the site from a biodiversity conservation perspective is the species-rich unimproved magnesian limestone grassland, which covers just under 4.6 hectares of the site. Only 270 hectares of this habitat exist in Britain, two-thirds of this being found in County Durham.
The site contains a variety of vegetation types including woodland, scrub, and several grassland communities. The most important part of the site from a biodiversity conservation perspective is the species-rich unimproved magnesian limestone grassland, which covers just under {{convert|4.6|ha}} of the site. Only {{convert|270|ha}} of this habitat exist in Britain, two-thirds of it in County Durham.


[[Image:Northern Argus Underwing 574.jpg|thumb|left|Brown Argus butterfly photographed in Bishop Middleham Quarry]]
[[Image:Northern Argus Underwing 574.jpg|thumb|left|Brown argus butterfly in Bishop Middleham Quarry]]


Magnesian limestone grassland supports an assemblage of [[Calcicole|calcicolous]] plants adapted to growing in thin soils with a short sward. The quarry holds one of the largest British populations of the dark red helleborine, [[Epipactis atrorubens]]; a survey in 2010 found nearly 1700 flowering spikes of this nationally-rare species.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://durhamwt.myzen.co.uk/wp/?p=1977|title=Rare orchid count in the red!|date=28 July 2010|publisher=Durham Wildlife Trust|accessdate=2 August 2010}}</ref>
Magnesian limestone grassland supports an assemblage of [[Calcicole|calcicolous]] plants adapted to growing in thin soils with a short sward. The quarry holds one of the largest British populations of the dark red helleborine, ''[[Epipactis atrorubens]]''; a survey in 2010 found nearly 1700 flowering spikes of this nationally rare species.
The quarry is a breeding site for the Durham argus butterfly, a local race of the [[brown argus]] found only in northeast England.

<ref name=Durham_WT_Bishop_M_Quarry>*{{cite web
The quarry is a breeding site for the Durham Argus butterfly, a local race of the [[Brown Argus]] found only in northeast England.
|title=Nature Reserve : Bishop Middleham Quarry |publisher=Durham Wildlife Trust
|url=https://www.durhamwt.com/nature-reserves/bishop-middleham-quarry
|access-date= 1 March 2022}}</ref>


The site attracted the interest of [[birdwatchers]] in 2002 when a pair of [[European bee-eater]]s took up residence, raising two young, only the [[Bee-eaters in Britain#Breeding attempts|third breeding attempt]] ever in Britain.
The site attracted the interest of [[birdwatchers]] in 2002 when a pair of [[European bee-eater]]s took up residence, raising two young, only the [[Bee-eaters in Britain#Breeding attempts|third breeding attempt]] ever in Britain.


Bishop Middleham Quarry is managed as a [[Nature Reserve]] by the [[Durham Wildlife Trust]].
Bishop Middleham Quarry is managed as a [[Nature Reserve]] by the [[Durham Wildlife Trust]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.durhamwt.co.uk/pdfs/Reserves%20pdf/BISHOP%20MIDD%20CARD.pdf|title=Bishop Middleham Quarry|publisher=[[Durham Wildlife Trust]]|accessdate=18 July 2010}}</ref> The last time the site was assessed by [[Natural England]], in June 2009, it was given a "favourable" rating.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/reportAction.cfm?report=sdrt13&category=S&reference=1002965|title=Condition of SSSI units|date=1 Jul 2010|publisher=Natural England|accessdate=9 August 2010}}</ref>
<ref name=Durham_WT_Bishop_M_Quarry/>

{{clear left}}


==References==
==References==
Line 112: Line 65:
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in County Durham]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in County Durham]]
[[Category:Nature reserves in County Durham]]
[[Category:Nature reserves in County Durham]]
[[Category:Quarries in England]]
[[Category:Quarries in County Durham]]
[[Category:Nature reserves of the Durham Wildlife Trust]]
[[Category:Bishop Middleham]]

Latest revision as of 11:59, 26 November 2023

Bishop Middleham Quarry
Disused quarry at Bishop Middleham
Map showing the location of Bishop Middleham Quarry
Map showing the location of Bishop Middleham Quarry
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationMAGiC MaP
Nearest townSedgefield, County Durham
Coordinates54°41′16″N 1°29′9″W / 54.68778°N 1.48583°W / 54.68778; -1.48583
Area8.6 ha (21 acres)
Established1968 / 1982
Governing bodyDurham Wildlife Trust
WebsiteBishop Middleham Quarry SSSI

Bishop Middleham Quarry is a disused quarry, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north-west of Sedgefield, County Durham, England. Quarry-working here ceased in 1934, and the site has since been colonised by vegetation. The underlying rock is Magnesian Limestone and this has had a strong influence in determining the range of plant and animal communities now found there.

In 1968 the quarry was designated as a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The SSSI boundaries were revised in 1982 to exclude areas which were no longer found to have high wildlife interest due to tipping and quarry reworking. [1]

The site contains a variety of vegetation types including woodland, scrub, and several grassland communities. The most important part of the site from a biodiversity conservation perspective is the species-rich unimproved magnesian limestone grassland, which covers just under 4.6 hectares (11 acres) of the site. Only 270 hectares (670 acres) of this habitat exist in Britain, two-thirds of it in County Durham.

Brown argus butterfly in Bishop Middleham Quarry

Magnesian limestone grassland supports an assemblage of calcicolous plants adapted to growing in thin soils with a short sward. The quarry holds one of the largest British populations of the dark red helleborine, Epipactis atrorubens; a survey in 2010 found nearly 1700 flowering spikes of this nationally rare species. The quarry is a breeding site for the Durham argus butterfly, a local race of the brown argus found only in northeast England. [2]

The site attracted the interest of birdwatchers in 2002 when a pair of European bee-eaters took up residence, raising two young, only the third breeding attempt ever in Britain.

Bishop Middleham Quarry is managed as a Nature Reserve by the Durham Wildlife Trust. [2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Bishop Middleham Quarry SSSI : Reasons for designating the SSSI status" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b *"Nature Reserve : Bishop Middleham Quarry". Durham Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Bishop_Middleham_Quarry&oldid=1186934971"