Country diary: The joy of wildlife walks is ?many eyes see more?

Longstone Edge, Derbyshire: The quarries here have much to offer ? ravens, wheatears and woolly thistles ? and not much gets past the Buxton Field ClubThis ridge is reputed to command the most spectacular views found anywhere in Derbyshire, but it?s also notable for two elongated ?trenches? that were excavated from the hilltop in a search for fluorspar.Quarries are usually seen as scars on the landscape, but these sites, known as High Rake and Deep Rake, illustrate the wildlife opportunities inadvertently created by some industrial activities. High Rake has become a cliff site perfect for ravens, wheatears and peregrines, while the stony spoil used to infill Deep Rake has turned it into a superb habitat for flowers and insects. Continue reading...