Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit

Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit was originally designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in recognition of its geological interest, which was revealed in the 1800s when it was quarried for chalk. The reserve lies in the Market Weighton Spillway, a glacial drainage channel cut during the later stages of the Würm glaciation. Quarrying exposed a cross-section through the zones of chalk. Since quarrying ceased in 1902 a full range of successional vegetation has developed. More recently, the importance of the chalk grassland flora has been acknowledged by its re-scheduling as a botanical SSSI.

The quarry floors and face have been colonised by pioneer species of lichens and mosses. On the quarry floor, basil, thyme, carline thistle, centaury and autumn gentian have colonised. The pioneer species stabilise the formation of soils and the bare chalk. Rabbits and scree from the chalk face maintain these early stages. Above the chalk face is an area of denser turf dominated by grasses and herbs and including salad burnet, knapweed and field scabious. The climax vegetation is hawthorn scrub, and finally ash woodland, unless management intervenes.

The diversity of flora supports an equally diverse fauna. Butterflies include marbled white, common blue and dingy skipper. Birds common on the reserve include yellowhammer, goldfinch, linnet and tree sparrow. Small mammals include long-tailed field mouse and common shrew. The Trust purchased the reserve in 1974 with generous help from WWF and The Wildlife Trusts (RSNC).

Reserve Management

• Management aims to maintain a chalk grassland with a mosaic of successional stages.
• Rabbits are essential in maintaining areas of bare chalk and very short swards on the quarry floor.
• Grazing is necessary to maintain a species-rich and structurally-diverse grassland.
• Scrub control is carried out to prevent encroachment onto the grassland.

Facilities

• Permissive footpaths
• Car park on old railway line or park on roadside close to reserve entrance
• Refreshments at The Light Dragoon, Etton and The Pipe and Glass, South Dalton
• Market Weighton has the usual visitor facilities