We have lots of animals and plants that Nigel can tell you all about.
Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
Viewed from Quarry, November 2011
Female Slow Worm (Blind Worm)
Anguis fragilis
October 2011
Bee Orchid
Ophrys apifera
Found in dry grassland on calcareous soil. Flowers borne in spikes, petals up to 12mm across with markings that give it a resemblance to a bumble bee.
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly
Aglais urticae
Can be seen March-October. Upperwings marbled orange, yellow and black, underparts are smoky-brown. Their caterpillars feed on common nettle.
Quarry mascot :-)
Teasel
Dipsacus fullonum
Biennial that produces rosette of pine-coated leaves in the first year. In the second, there are conical heads of purple flowers borne on spined stems.
Elder
Sambucus nigra
Shrub with unpleasant -smelling leaves. Flat-topped sprays of fragrant white flowers appearing June-July, and black-coloured berries.
Red Valerian
Centranthus ruber
Grey-green perrenial of rocks, broken ground and walls. Ovate, untoothed leaves in opposite pairs. Flowers are formed in cluster and can be pink, red, or white. Seen between May - September.
Woolly Thistle (with bumble bee)
Cirsium eriophorum
Biennial of calcareous grassland. Pinnately divided leaves. Spherical, woolly flower heads 40-70mm across seen July-September.
Common Dog-Violet
Viola riviniana
Perriennial herb found in woodland and grassland. Long-stalked and heart-shaped leaves. Purple flowers appearing between March - May.
References: Collins Complete British Wildlife: Paul Sterry 1997 ISBN 0-583-33638-8
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