Wingate Quarry

Wingate Quarry
Map showing the location of Wingate Quarry
Map showing the location of Wingate Quarry
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationMAGiC MaP
Nearest townFerryhill, County Durham
Peterlee, County Durham
Coordinates54°43′54″N 1°25′17″W / 54.73167°N 1.42139°W / 54.73167; -1.42139
Area23.35 ha (57.7 acres)
Established1984
Governing bodyNatural England
WebsiteWingate Quarry

Wingate Quarry is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in the County Durham district of east County Durham, England. [1] Part of the site is also a Local Nature Reserve [2] It is a disused quarry located just south of the village of Wheatley Hill.

Frog Orchid, Coeloglossum viride

The quarry was worked for Magnesian Limestone until the 1930s, when it closed. Since then a large and varied grassland has developed on the site. Magnesian limestone grassland is nationally scarce, with this site accounting for close to 8 per cent of the national total. As well as species that are characteristic of this vegetation type, there are also two orchids, fragrant orchid, Gymnadenia conopsea, and frog orchid, Coeloglossum viride, both of which are uncommon in County Durham.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Wingate Quarry : Reasons for SSSI status" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Wingate Quarry : Local Nature Reserve". Natural England. Retrieved 1 April 2022.


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