Limekiln Close and East Pit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Limekiln Close and East Pit |
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East Pit
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| Type | Local Nature Reserve |
| Location | Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire |
| OS grid | TL 485 560 |
| Area | 10 hectares |
| Managed by | Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire |
Limekiln Close and East Pit is a special natural area in Cherry Hinton, near Cambridge. It covers 10 hectares, which is about the size of 25 football fields! This place is a Local Nature Reserve (LNR), meaning it's protected for its wildlife and plants.
The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire looks after this reserve. They call it Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits. It's a great spot to explore nature and see some unique plants.
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What is Limekiln Close and East Pit?
This nature reserve is made up of two main parts: Limekiln Close and East Pit. Both areas used to be chalk quarries. A quarry is a large hole dug into the ground to get out materials like chalk.
East Pit is part of a bigger area called the Cherry Hinton Pit biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). An SSSI is a place that is very important for its plants, animals, or geology. It's like a VIP area for nature!
East Pit: A Wildflower Haven
East Pit has tall, steep walls made of chalk. The bottom of the pit is a beautiful grassland filled with wildflowers. You can also find areas with bushes and small trees.
Many different flowers grow here, including:
- Milkwort
- Harebell
- Kidney vetch
You might even spot a very rare plant called moon carrot. This plant is on the British Red List of Threatened Species. This means it's a plant that needs special protection because it's at risk of disappearing.
Limekiln Close: A Woodland Retreat
Quarrying stopped in Limekiln Close about 200 years ago. Since then, nature has taken over! It's now a beautiful, sloping woodland. You'll find many mature trees here, like ash and cherry trees. It's a peaceful place for animals and plants to live.
Visiting the Reserve
Limekiln Close and East Pit are both protected as a Local Nature Reserve by Cambridge City Council. This helps keep them safe for everyone to enjoy.
You can visit both parts of the reserve. They have separate entrances right next to each other on Limekiln Road. However, there is no path that connects the two areas directly inside the reserve.
