On the beach

Ternhill Quarry - Wednesday 19 July 2017

Last year I was informed about a disused sand and gravel quarry at Ternhill. Visits were invited to assess the restoration work that had been done and to gather records of the species that had colonised the site. I did not have time to go last year but was able to schedule a Joy of Wildlife day there this year.

Permission was arranged with the quarry operators via Shropshire County Council and off we went.

Nine of us made the journey to the quarry which is situated just north of Hinstock on the A41. After parking and getting ready we climbed (or went through) the gate that marks the entrance to the quarry to be greeted by a large green metal construction, an avenue of birch trees and vast bowl of gravelly sand with a large pool at its centre.

In places the vegetation was well established, especially around the pool, but other areas were more like a beach. The hot sun blazing down at the time of our arrival accentuated this feeling.

A quick exploration of the site found half of the site fenced off with a stark "Private" notice posted on it. This was a surprise as I understood that the quarry operators had not yet handed the land back to the owners. Never mind, there was still plenty to look at.

Evening primrose was a very common plant in the sandy areas but there was plenty of other flora to challenge the botanists among the group.

There is very little more to add. We scoured the beach, the poolside vegetation, the areas of more mature vegetation and the trees that bordered the site. I will now hand over to the photographers to show you some of the things we found.

We start with an insect that does not often appear in these reports. Ants. No-one has told me what species they are but I am sure somebody will.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

A pair of Adonis ladybirds intent on perpetuating the species

Photograph: David Williams

A pair of blue shieldbugs with the same purpose.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

A freshly emerged common blue damselfly by its exuviae

Photograph: David Williams

A common green grasshopper.

Photograph: Jim Cresswell

A common groundhopper. The blue circle is there to highlight the fully-formed (but non-functional) forewing - this indicates that it is an adult.

Photograph: David Williams

A late instar nymph of the rhopalid bug Corizus hyoscami.

Photograph: David Williams

A hoverfly - Eristalis interruptus

Photograph: Jim Cresswell

A gatekeeper.

Photograph: Jim Cresswell

A mid-instar nymph of a green shieldbug.

Photograph: Jim Cresswell

A pair of rhopalid bugs Myrmus miriformis following the example of the Adonis ladybirds and blue bugs.

Photograph: David Willaims

The soldierfly Oxycera rara - careful, or I may get drawn into using the rather silly common name for this.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

A rather battered and bruised ringlet.

Photograph: Jim Cresswell

A frayed small copper.

Photograph: Jim Cresswell

There was only one blot on an otherwise excellent day on an excellent site. A neighbour came to find out what we were doing - no issue with that. He then complained that we had left the gate to the entrance drive of the quarry open - a fair cop - we had, I went to shut it. Finally he complained that we had trespassed across his land to get to the site - I have no idea if we had, but if we did, I apologise - I was not made aware of this issue by either the council or the quarry operator.

The weather forecast had promised thunderstorms by mid-afternoon so when the clouds began to darken and threaten we made our way home. 

The thunderstorm did not materialise.

My thanks to Shropshire County Council and Cemex for granting us access to do what we enjoy doing and to the photographers Bob Kemp, David Williams and Jim Cresswell for providing the excellent photographs.