Rifle Butts Quarry Nature Reserve

Of particular interest at this small nature reserve is the geological feature exposed on the quarry face. The exposure, of national importance, shows a Cretaceous unconformity, where sediments from the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous periods were eroded away. In the late Cretaceous period the sea once again covered the area depositing red and then white chalk. Compared to other areas in North Yorkshire some 1000 metres of sedimentary rock is missing from the Rifle Butts sequence. A shelter has been constructed to protect the quarry face from erosion.

Over 150 plants have been recorded on this site, which still displays some characteristic chalk species including cowslip, marjoram, field scabious and wild basil. The old target marker put has been filled in with topsoil and as a result winter aconite, comfrey, giant bellflower, sweet cicely and leopard’s bane were introduced to the site. Breeding birds include willow warbler and yellowhammer. Ringlet and common blue butterflies breed.

The Trust works to protect the rock exposure and the chalk grassland. Hawthorn and elder scrub is removed from the most important grassland areas and the site is grazed with Hebridean sheep.

• Spring: Plants - Cowslip; Primrose Birds - Willow warbler
• Summer: Plants - Common twayblade; Majoram Invertebrates - Yellow meadow ant; Small copper; Common blue
• Autumn: Birds - Fieldfare; Redwing
• Winter: Plants - Winter aconite

Rifle Butts Quarry was created to provide stone for the construction of the railway line adjacent to the nature reserve.

The site was then used as a rifle range from the 1890s to the First World War.

Today it is important as a geological site and relict chalk grassland.

Public transport
Market Weighton is served by buses from York and Goole via Holme-on-Spalding-Moor. The Hudson Way cycle route runs on a disused railway line between Market Weighton and Beverley.

By car
After passing Martket Weighton Secondary School continue straight on at the next junction. A mile further on take a sharp turn left, go between the embankments where a bridge once took the Market Weighton – Beverley railway line over the road. The site is on the right hand side at the end of the first field and parking is on the wide grass verge in front of the nature reserve. Please don’t block the gate into the field next to the site.