Three intrepid members braved the heat on the day before the hottest UK day ever recorded to visit the Langdyke Countryside Trust (LCT) flagship nature reserve, Swaddywell Pit. The walk was led by LCT founder member and HFFS treasurer, Stuart Irons.

In medieval times Swaddywell was a stone quarry would have provided stone for local churches and houses. More recently Swaddywell has had a chequered history – one of England’s very first nature reserves in the early 20th Century it then became in turn a quarry, bomb dump, landfill tip and racetrack.

Swaddywell was one of England’s earliest nature reserves, leased by the National Trust between 1915 and 1924. Charles Rothschild, a founder of the modern nature conservation movement, included Swaddywell on his 1912 list of the country’s most important nature conservation sites.

Swaddywell was sold in 1924 and quarrying resumed.  During the Second World War it was used as a bomb dump. After the war the original site was filled and returned to agriculture, while quarrying moved further east and north, creating the current pit. During the 1980’s the quarry was a rubbish tip.  More recently in 1997 it was used as a Volkswagen racetrack before being bought by LCT and once more restored as a nature reserve.

Unfortunately, due to the extremely dry and hot weather conditions this summer we were unable to see Swaddywell at its best. The quarry pond which is usually buzzing with dragonflies was dry and the cabin pond was reduced to a shadow of its usual self with about 6 inches of water in the bottom. The usually abundant butterflies were also short supply, preferring to rest in the shade rather than put on a show for HFFS members. Swaddywell is also the home for eight species of orchid, but the drought had curtailed the flowering season for most of these however Stuart was able to point out the dried seedheads for six species.

Despite the extreme weather conditions, we had a very pleasant walk with good company and it was enjoyed by all those who attended.

Swaddywell is an open access reserve for all people and dogs on leads and I would urge those who have not visited to do so. The best time to visit is late spring or early summer but there is always something interesting to see at any time of year.

Stuart Irons