Clawthorpe Fell

Clawthorpe Fell
Limestone pavement at Clawthorpe Fell
Location in Cumbria
Location	Near Burton-in-Kendal
OS grid	SD 53528 78487
Coordinates	54°12′02″N2°42′54″W / 54.20056°N 2.71500°W / 54.20056; -2.71500
Area	12 hectares (30 acres)
Operated by	Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Designation	Site of Special Scientific Interest National Nature Reserve Special Area of Conservation
Website	www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/clawthorpe-fell

Clawthorpe Fell is a nature reserve of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust, near Burton-in-Kendal in Cumbria, England. The reserve, and the neighbouring reserve Holme Park Quarry, are on the western edge of a large area of limestone pavement. This area, which contains Hutton Roof Crags and Farleton Knott, is an uncommon wildlife habitat. ^[1]

Description

The "island", surrounded by the quarry

The area of the reserve is 12 hectares (30 acres). It was designated a National Nature Reserve in 1976. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and a Special Area of Conservation. ^[2]

Cumbria Wildlife Trust took over the management of Clawthorpe Fell and neighbouring site Holme Park Quarry, both owned by Aggregate Industries, in March 2022. ^{[1] [3]}

There are two parts to the nature reserve: the "mainland", an expanse of limestone pavement, across which there is a footpath, on the edge of a quarry; and the "island", which is closed to public access, in the middle of the quarry. ^[2]

Wildlife

The mainland is a habitat for butterflies and moths; plants include dark-red helleborine, found in only a few sites in the UK, and bird's foot sedge. On the island, less damaged by quarrying, there is grassland and scrub; there are junipers, ferns, and in some years fly orchids. ^{[1] [2]}

References

1. "We're taking on the care of two important areas of limestone pavement for their special wildlife" Cumbria Wildlife Trust, 11 March 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
2. "Clawthorpe Fell" Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
3. "Cumbria Wildlife Trust to care for nature reserves near Burton-in-Kendal" Westmorland Gazette , 12 March 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2025.