Ketton Quarries

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.6393, -0.5665

Also within

Rutland County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1) Unfavourable Recovering (9) Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SK969056 Favourable 92.17 2015-03-30
SK971056 Unfavourable Recovering 9.92 2015-03-30
SK973055 Unfavourable Recovering 11.77 2015-03-30
SK974056 Unfavourable Recovering 9.92 2015-03-30
SK975053 Unfavourable Recovering 9.92 2015-03-30
SK977049 Unfavourable Recovering 11.77 2015-03-30
SK977050 Unfavourable Recovering 9.92 2015-03-30
SK977052 Unfavourable Declining 1.73 2015-03-30
SK978052 Unfavourable Recovering 11.77 2015-03-30
SK979050 Unfavourable Recovering 11.77 2015-03-30
SK979052 Unfavourable Recovering 11.77 2015-03-30

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Rock Outcrop · Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone

Landscape processes: Coastal

Description

Area, 142.8 ha. 352.9 ac. Description Ketton Quarries contain nationally important exposures of Jurassic Limestone. The older workings contain some of the largest remaining examples of semi natural limestone grassland and scrub in Leicestershire. Biological A complex mosaic of grassland, scrub and woodland vegetation has developed in disused pits and on spoil heaps. The grassland areas are largely dominated by tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum and red fescue Festuca rubra, with a range of typical lime loving plants including quaking grass Briza media, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, glaucous sedge Carex flacca, bee orchid Ophrys apifera, common rest-harrow Ononis repens, dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and viper’s bugloss Echium vulgare and locally rare species such as woolly thistle Cirsium eriophorum. The dominant scrub species is hawthorn Crataegus monogyna; associated shrubs include privet Ligustrum vulgare, common whitebeam Sorbus aria, buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica and roses Rosa spp. Yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens, marjoram Origanum vulgare, ploughman’s spikenard Inula conyza, common twayblade Neottia ovata, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and deadly nightshade Atropa belladonna occur where the scrub canopy is fairly open. Stands of secondary ash Fraxinus excelsior woodland have developed on the oldest spoil heaps. The woodland flora beneath is poorly developed but a few characteristic species such as ivy Hedera helix, hairy brome Bromus ramosa and sweet violet Viola odorata are found in these areas. An area of beech Fagus sylvatica plantation supports yellow bird’s nest Hypopitys monotropa which is rare in Leicestershire. Geological Ketton Quarries provide one of the largest and most extensive continuous exposures in the Bathonian ‘Estuarine Series’ and the underlying Bajocian Lincolnshire Formation. It is thus of considerable importance for both stratigraphical and sedimentological research and also for teaching purposes. The Lincolnshire Limestone is very well exposed in the quarries here and provides an important section through the whole formation. The development of small scale depositional cycles and gastropod rich Nerinea Beds in the Lower Lincolnshire Limestone is particularly significant. Ketton Main Quarry has been designated the type section of the Rutland Formation of the Bathonian and the full Rutland Formation succession is excellently displayed here. This consists of the Stamford Member overlain by six shallowing upwards sedimentary rhythms. The section forms a standard for the interpretation of Rutland Formation exposures throughout the East Midlands. The Grange Quarry shows a complete White Limestone section, fairly typical for the outcrop north of a line drawn between Kettering and Peterborough; across this line important changes occur, both within the White Limestone and in the Middle Jurassic succession generally. This section is critical for the comparison and interpretation of the northern White Limestone exposures between this line and the River Humber. This is a critical site of considerable importance for lithostratigraphic and facies analysis in the Bathonian rocks of Southern Britain. Date Notified, 7 October 1986

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum LC grass poaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
hairy brome Bromus ramosa Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens LC grass poaceae
belladonna deadly nightshade Atropa belladonna NT herb solanaceae
yellowwort Blackstonia perfoliata LC herb gentianaceae
dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule VU herb asteraceae
wooly thistle Cirsium eriophorum LC herb asteraceae
spotted orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii LC herb orchidaceae
viper's bugloss Echium vulgare LC herb asteraceae
autumn gentian Gentianella amarella LC herb gentianaceae
rock roses Helianthemum nummularium VU herb cistaceae
yellow birds nest Hypopitys monotropa DD herb monotropaceae
ploughman's spikenard Inula conyza Not listed in GB list herb asteraceae
common twayblade Neottia ovata NT herb orchidaceae
common rest-harrow Ononis repens VU herb fabaceae
bee orchid Ophrys apifera LC herb orchidaceae
wild marjoram Origanum vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
sweet violet Viola odorata LC herb violaceae
glaucus sedge Carex flacca LC sedge cyperaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
wild privet Ligustrum vulgare LC shrub oleaceae
buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica LC shrub rhamnaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
whitebeams Sorbus aria CR tree rosaceae
ivy Hedera helix LC woody climber araliaceae

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas