Love Wrexham Magazine - Issue 3 - September 2019

Outdoors
This month we take you on a mileand-a-half
(2.8km) walk around
the beautiful and diverse Marford
Quarry.
Marford Quarry is located 2.5 miles
NE of Wrexham. Heading south
into the village of Marford on the
B5445, turn right onto Pant Lane in
the village centre (immediately after
the Red Lion pub). There is free
parking at Maes y Pant car park,
approximately 415m down Pant
Lane (SJ 354 551; LL12 8HB).
OS Explorer Map 256
Marford Quarry Walk
by Mark Roberts, North Wales Wildlife Trust
With over 1,000 recorded species,
Marford Quarry is a wildlife haven
and one of the best places in Wales
for invertebrates. As its name
suggests, the site was quarried for
many years (supplying aggregate
for the construction of the Mersey
Tunnel) but, now that nature has
truly reclaimed it for herself, insects
thrive in the mix of post-industrial
habitats and several rare species
make their homes here.
The reserve is especially important
for a specialised group of
invertebrates,
aculeate
Hymenoptera (bees, ants and
wasps) with an astounding 171
different species recorded (2018).
Ants, in particular, are an important
source of food for green
woodpeckers and as you wander
along the network of paths that
criss-cross the quarry floor, listen
out for their distinctive, cackling
call. In spring and summer, the vivid
colours of orchids and other
wildflowers accompany the
reserve’s leafy greens; whilst the
flashes of colour from the 35
butterfly species found here are
sure to catch your eye.
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You walk into an unexpected oasis
of wilderness by following a treelined
path to find rare plants like wild
liquorice, special invertebrates,
slow-worms and gorgeous
butterflies such as the purple
hairstreak.
The route is easy-going; even
suitable for all-terrain pushchairs.
Turn left out of the car park onto
Pant Lane and walk along the lefthand
pavement until you see a
finger post pointing left (shortly after
crossing Quarry Brow). Follow this
lovely leafy path, noticing the huge,
smooth-barked beech trees among
the sycamores.
When you come to the junction in
paths (after about 300m), take the
right-hand path, passing a bench on
the left and carrying straight on.
Ignore other paths leading off the
track.
At the next fork, take the right-hand
path, which climbs steeply uphill.
Notice the change in vegetation to
ash, hawthorn and birch as you gain
height, whilst the atmosphere
becomes drier and the soil sandier.
If you wish to spot dragonflies and
look for smooth newts, frogs and
toads, dip down the left-hand path
at the next junction to visit the pond
– retrace your steps to return.
The path carries on looping around
the top of the reserve, skirting a
fenced area. The fence prevents
rabbits nibbling special plants such
as bee orchid, pyramidal orchid and
wild liquorice. In summer you smell
wafts of evening primrose and hear
the repetitive song of the chiffchaff.
Continue along this path past a
hedge of Lawson cypress with
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