Alderton Hill Quarry
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP006345 | — | Favourable | 0.35 | 2021-11-20 |
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Jurassic
Description
Description Located on Alderton Hill, to the immediate south west of Dumbleton Wood, Alderton Hill Quarry is approximately two kilometres south west of Dumbleton village, north Gloucestershire. This locality has long been famous for its well preserved Lower Jurassic insect fauna. Fossil insects, recovered from nodules in the Upper Lias Lower Toarcian 'Fish Bed', have been described in several publications and include type specimens of Mesozoic dragonflies Heterophlebia Westwood and Gomphites Handlirsh as well as the remains of a large cockroach. Other faunal remains include fish, isolated ichthyosaur bones, well preserved cephalopods and the holotype of the crustacean Eryon richardsoni. The insects from Alderton Hill Quarry are often more complete than those from comparable Lower Jurassic localities. Alderton Hill Quarry is a key palaeoentomological locality, in particular, for understanding the anatomy and evolution of early insect faunas and as such is an important reasearch locality. The field boundaries are formed by species rich hedges with ash Fraxinus excelsior, pedunculate oak Quercus robur, English elm Ulmus procera, holly Ilex aquifolium, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, hazel Corylus avellana and spindle Euonymus europaeus. The invertebrate fauna includes common blue butterfly Polyommatus icarus.
Species mentioned
Show the 8 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| common blue | Polyommatus icarus | LC | butterfly | lycaenidae |
| hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| spindle tree | Euonymus europaeus | LC | shrub | celastraceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| holly | Ilex aquifolium | LC | tree | aquifoliaceae |
| common oak | Quercus robur | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| English elm | Ulmus procera | LC | tree | ulmaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus robur |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp. |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus spp. |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Ulmus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp. |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus robur |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dusky-lemon sallow Cirrhia gilvago |
Near Threatened | Ulmus procera |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Common fan-foot Pechipogo strigilata |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.