Quarry Moor

Quarry Moor is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI, at the south edge of Ripon, North Yorkshire, England, and adjacent to the A61 road. It contains an outcrop of Magnesian Limestone, exposed by former quarrying. 255 million years ago this limestone was the peripheral sediment of a tropical sea. The land was donated in 1945 to the people of Ripon by the town's mayor, Alderman Thomas Fowler Spence, a varnish manufacturer. The land was notified as an SSSI in 1986 because its calcareous grassland supported a large diversity of plant species. The site features a Schedule 8 protected plant, thistle broomrape.[1] The land is protected as a nature reserve, and it is also managed as a recreational area. Therefore, its calcareous grass area is fenced off for protection and study, but it also contains a car park, information signs, a children's play area, accessible paths, benches, and dog waste bins.

Quarry Moor
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Former quarry face at Quarry Moor
Location within North Yorkshire
Area of SearchNorth Yorkshire
Grid referenceSE309693
Coordinates54.1182°N 1.5260°W / 54.1182; -1.5260
InterestBiological
Area7.5927 hectares (0.07593 km2; 0.02932 sq mi)
Notification1 May 1986
Location mapDefra Magicmap

Site history

The strata of the quarry face at the western side of the Quarry Moor site are the remains of a Permian shoreline of 255 million years past. Sediments from the tropical Zechstein Sea ultimately became the Magnesian Limestone outcrop of north-east England, part of which is exposed here. Limestone has been quarried here for at least six centuries, and used for construction.[2][3] For example, in the 15th century the walls of the 12th century Chapel of St Mary Magdalen, Ripon, were refaced with blocks of limestone from Quarry Moor.[4] By the 1870s there were lime kilns on the site, making quicklime for mortar.[5]

In September 1943, following the "use of land for army training," botanist George Taylor reported: "Serious disturbance has been observed on Quarry Moor ... where last year Spiranthes spiralis Koch [or lady's tresses orchid] occurred in some quantity and the reappearance of this very local species on this site is problematical." He checked the site again in 1944, and said, "The work of destruction has proceeded apace during the intervening months. The common is now almost completely excavated, and all vestige of plant life - except at the narrow margins - has disappeared."[6] As of 2020, the lady's tresses orchid is "becoming increasingly rare in the north of the UK."[7] The quarry was closed in the 1950s, and the pits were infilled in the 1970s.[2] The infilling was carried out by the British Army, using 190 tonnes of stone supplied by Concrete4U and Lightwater Quarries.[8][9] In this area there is water-soluble gypsum mixed with the limestone deposits, and the occasional collapse of cavities left by this gypsum layer has been blamed for the local sinkholes which have been appearing for centuries past.[10]

Thomas Fowler Spence, donor

Quarry Moor is now held in trust for the Ripon people, having been donated in 1945 by Alderman T.F. Spence.[2] The site then measured 24 acres (9.7 ha) "to be kept for Ripon children for all time."[11] Thomas Fowler Spence (1878–1949)[12][13] lived at Red Hills Grange, was Mayor of Ripon between 1927 and 1929, and was managing director of T.R. Williamsons of Ripon, which made varnish.[14][15][16]

Site location and designation
Woodland path, Quarry Moor, 2019

Quarry Moor nature reserve is a 7.5927 hectares (0.07593 km2; 0.02932 sq mi) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Geological Conservation Review site (GCR),[1] consisting of "species-rich calcareous grassland" over a scant soil covering, plus limestone rock, scrub, and woodland on raised areas and on the perimeter of the site.[17] It lies at the southern edge of Ripon, with an entrance on the west side of the A61 roundabout.[18] Facilities include information boards, accessible paths, informal paths, benches, and dog toilet bins,[2] besides a fenced-off wildflower meadow, and a children's play area in the north-east corner with a public car park.[8]

The site was notified on 1 May 1986, being of interest for the large number of plant species supported by the calcareous grassland habitat.[17] The notified features of the site are the Schedule 8 protected plant,[19] thistle broomrape, and the chalky grassland.[1] The site was designated in 2001 as a Local Nature Reserve.[2] It is one of a number of SSSIs in the Harrogate region.[20] The others are Bishop Monkton Ings,[21] Brimham Rocks,[22] Cow Myers,[23] Farnham Mires,[24] Hack Fall Wood,[25] Hay-a-Park,[26] Kirk Deighton[27] Mar Field Fen,[28] and Ripon Parks.[29]

Quarry Moor is funded by Natural England, via Defra Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, Harrogate Borough Council, Ripon City Partnership and (until 2012) Yorkshire Forward.[2][30] As of 2019 it was cared for by the Alderman T.F. Spence Committee, which consists of six Ripon City councillors, and six members of the public.[31][32]

Significant site content

Flora

On the chalky grassland, alongside sheep's fescue and meadow oat-grass, grow rough hawkbit, hoary plantain, purging flax, thyme, glaucous sedge, yellow oat, quaking grass and red fescue. Among these are red bartsia, centaury, yellow-wort, bee orchid and felwort or autumn gentian.[17]

On other grassland here, the pH is more neutral, and the vegetation can grow more strongly. For example, there are various herbs: common spotted-orchid, great burnet, restharrow, marjoram, cowslip, hay rattle, greater burnet-saxifrage, basil, cross-wort, ox-eye daisy, knapweed, self-heal, lady's bedstraw, bird's-foot trefoil[17][33] and primrose,[2] all growing alongside slender false-broom and false-oat grass.[17]

Under the sycamore, wych elm, yew and ash in the wooded areas,[1][17] goldilocks and sanicle can sometimes be found. More common there, are: dog's mercury, hairy St John's-wort, slender false-broom again, and wood avens.[17]

Fauna

Quarry Moor's scrub provides a breeding site for whitethroat and willow warbler, summer visitors from Africa. The site also supports the resident treecreeper, wren and blackcap population. There is a bird feeding station and a bird hide in the south-east corner of the site. Insects breeding onsite include the brimstone butterfly, and the six-spot burnet moth, whose food plant is bird's-foot trefoil.[2][33] Mammal sightings at Quarry Moor have included deer, vole, weasel and fox.[2]

Maintenance

The major aspect of the site for the SSSI is the limestone grassland, because it can support "a rich variety of plants and animals, including a number of rare plant species." Maintenance of this section is needed to prevent the growth of rank grass and scrub, which would eventually dominate the area and affect the site's biodiversity. Light winter grazing is recommended, to prevent the dominance of scrub, and to achieve a "diverse mosaic of tall and short vegetation" in order to support biodiversity. Thus traditional hay cutting is carried out, and the grassland is grazed by ponies, cattle and native sheep such as Hebrideans.[33][34] Fertiliser is not recommended because limestone grasslands support species which are adapted to low-nutrient habitats.[34]

Development and risk assessment

When the calcareous grassland of this site was assessed for Natural England in 2011 it was judged to be in favourable condition, although the biodiversity was borderline,[35] and scrub (hawthorn and ivy)[1] was beginning to encroach on the grassland. The woodland area was judged favourable.[35]

English Nature has published a list of "operations likely to damage the special interest." Item 27, Recreational or other activities likely to damage or disturb features of interest, may be pertinent since the park is also maintained for public recreational use.[36] Natural England prohibits the picking of wild flowers, and the dropping of litter. Dogs are required to be kept on the lead, and dog litter bins are provided.[2] Meanwhile, in point 9.2 of a letter granting a 2018 planning application for houses near the SSSI, a site assessor noted that dogs were being exercised on the protected calcareous grassland, dog waste was being left in situ, and "litter, vandalism and degradation are also frequent."[37]

gollark: So just use UNTYPED bigints.
gollark: Exactly.
gollark: It's technically workable.
gollark: Why not just store everything as bigints?
gollark: We have lots of things.

References
  1. Newton, Joanee (1 May 1986). "Designated sites view: Quarry Moor SSSI". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Harrogate SE 309 693: Natural England. Retrieved 20 December 2019.CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. "Welcome to Quarry Moor" (PDF). raiponcity.files.wordpress.com. Ripon City Council. August 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  3. Dooks, Brian (7 November 2005). "History of city's wife sales and sin eaters". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  4. "The Chapel of St Mary Magdalene, Ripon". Harrogate Herald. British Newspaper Archive. 28 March 1917. p. 5 col5. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  5. Walbran, J.R. (1871). A Guide to Ripon and Harrogate. A. Johnson & Co. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  6. Taylor, George, D.Sc., F.L.S.. (1944). "Farnham Mires: A Notable Botanical Locality". The North Western Naturalist. T. Buncle & Co. Ltd., Arbroath (March, June): 26–28.
  7. "Autumn lady's tresses". plantlife.org.uk. Plantlife. 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  8. "Lightwater Quarries & Quarry Moor Local Nature Reserve". concrete4u.co.uk. Concrete4U. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  9. "Lightwater Quarries & Quarry Moor Local Nature Reserve". lightwaterquarries.com. Lightwater Quarries. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  10. Winpenny, David (2017). Secret Ripon. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 9781445672168. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  11. "Gift to Ripon". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. British Newspaper Archive. 30 May 1945. p. 1 col7. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  12. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 28 December 2019. Births Sep 1878 Spence Thomas Fowler Ripon 9a 73
  13. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 28 December 2019. Deaths Mar 1949 Spence Thomas F. 70 Claro 2c 173
  14. "Grewelthorpe: Spence family". grewelthorpe.org.uk. Grewelthorpe Village community. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  15. Census of England and Wales 1911 schedule 26 Thomas Fowler Spence 1 North Parade Ripon
  16. "Alderman T.F. Spence". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. British Newspaper Archive. 21 March 1949. p. 1 col5. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  17. Newton, Joanne (1986). "Quarry Moor, citation" (PDF). designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Natural England. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  18. "Magic Map Quarry Moor". magic.defra.gov.uk. Defra. 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  19. "Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, schedule 8". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  20. "Appendix III: wildlife sites in Harrogate district". Harrogate.gov.uk (cached). Harrogate: Harrogate Council. July 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  21. Newton, Joanne (1 October 1986). "Designated sites view: Bishop Monkton Ings SSSI". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Natural England. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  22. "Designated sites view, Brimham Rocks SSSI, details". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Natural England. 19 February 1988. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  23. Newton, Joanne (26 January 1984). "Designated sites view: Cow Myers SSSI". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Harrogate SE 270 729: Natural England. Retrieved 20 December 2019.CS1 maint: location (link)
  24. Newton, Joanne (13 January 1984). "Designated sites view: Farnham Mires SSSI". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Natural England. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  25. "Designated sites view: Hack Fall Wood SSSI". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Natural England. 16 October 1989. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  26. "Designated sites view: Hay-a-Park site detail". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Harrogate SE 362 580: Natural England. 15 June 1995. Retrieved 20 December 2019.CS1 maint: location (link)
  27. Dickinson, Michelle (16 August 2000). "Kirk Deighton SSSI, details". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Natural England. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  28. Newton, Joanne (2 October 1988). "Designated sites view: Mar Field Fen SSSI". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Harrogate SE 222 819: Natural England. Retrieved 20 December 2019.CS1 maint: location (link)
  29. Newton, Joanne (1983). "Natural England designated sites view: Ripon Parks SSSI". Designatedsites.naturalengland.co.uk. Natural England. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  30. "Biodiversity and wildlife". Harrogate.gov.uk. Harrogate Borough Council. 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  31. "Ripon City Council: Alderman TF Spence Committee". riponcity.gov.uk. Ripon City Council. 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  32. "Charity directory: the Alderman Tom F. Spence Charity". charitycheckout.co.uk. Charity Checkout. 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  33. "The grassland of Quarry Moor" (PDF). riponcity.files.wordpress.com/. Ripon City Council. August 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  34. "English Nature: views about management (Quarry Moor)" (PDF). designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Natural England. 6 October 2004. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  35. Newton, Joanne (5 July 2011). "Designated sites view: condition of SSSI Units for Site Quarry Moor SSSI". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Natural England. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  36. "Operations likely to damage the special interest, Quarry Moor" (PDF). desugbatedsites, naturalengland.org.uk. Natural England. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  37. Nowak, Jean (25 June 2018). "Appeal made by Whitcliffe Grange Farm Partnership" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
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