Wildlife lovers are being given the rare opportunity to see a spectacular blue butterfly at Derbyshire’s only butterfly reserve.
The county’s largest colony of Common Blue butterflies can be found at Hoe Grange Quarry, which is opening its gates to the public for the first time this year, on Sunday 17 June.
The event is taking place at the height of the Common Blue flight season on the reserve, which sits on the southern edge of the Peak District, near the hamlet of Longcliffe, between Brassington and Elton.
The former limestone quarry was left to wildlife in the 1970s and now, thanks to joint management by Butterfly Conservation (BC) and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (DWT) volunteers, the reserve is home to more than 26 species of butterfly.
BC’s Butterfly Recorder for the area, Ken Orpe, said: “The Common Blue is doing really well at Hoe Grange and in a good year, you can see as many as 200 butterflies on one day!
“We’re inviting families to come and see this butterfly and other species like the Wall butterfly between 11am and 4pm on Sunday 17 June.”
Free ice cream will be on offer throughout the day, alongside stalls selling plants, tea and cake. For the first time visitors will also have the opportunity to look through a moth trap.
Ken added: “We have a number of day-flying moths at Hoe Grange like the beautiful Wood Tiger moth, but we also have plenty of night-time moths that people wouldn’t normally get to see, like the bright pink and green Elephant Hawk-moth.”
Hoe Grange Quarry, which is owned by Longcliffe Quarries Ltd, saw more than 300 people attend its very first open day last year.
Viv Russell, Group Managing Director of Longcliffe Group, said: “Once again we are delighted to host the open day for members of the public at Hoe Grange.
“Thanks to the micro-climate created by the surrounding cliffs and trees, our former limestone quarry has been transformed into a unique butterfly haven, demonstrating one of the largest butterfly colonies in the Peak District.”
Reserves Manager for DWT, Julia Gow, said: “Hoe Grange packs in lots of wildlife in a small area. We are really pleased that to be managing Hoe Grange in association with Butterfly Conservation and Longcliffe Quarries.
More information on the open day and the reserve can be found by visiting:
www.butterfly-conservation.org/HoeGrange
Or email Ken Orpe
Hoe Grange is home to a wide range of wildlife, from butterflies to Orchids and two species of Owl. Access to the reserve is normally by appointment only through contacting Ken Orpe at @email or by calling the Reserve Warden, Ray Walker on: 01335 390584.