Credit Karl Curtis
Bishop's Hill
ICE WARNING: Please do not venture onto any frozen body of water, for any reason. It is never safe to do so and you may put yourself and others at risk.
The Quarry pool, also known as the Blue Pool is a dangerous body of water and should not be entered at any time. Always supervise children and pets around bodies of water and ensure they stay a safe distance from the water.
Please DO NOT enter the water at our nature reserves. Doing so can be harmful for wildlife, and most importantly puts you at risk from the deep, cold water and possible hidden obstacles.
Location
What3Words: shepherdess.upward.caravan or creamed.bind.unionists
OS Map Reference
SP 39284 58124 or SP 39544 58633
Know before you go
Dogs
Do not allow dogs to enter the Blue Pool
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
April to SeptemberAbout the reserve
Bishop's Hill Nature Reserve sits north of the village of Bishop's Itchington and was once part of the old Harbury Cement Works which closed in 1970. It has since been established as an important local site for wildlife. The hill is formed from the waste lime created from the limestone quarry and cement works which opened in 1852.
Back in 1852 an aerial ropeway transported the waste material from the quarry which accumulated into the hill you find today. This low nutrient mound means a variety of lime-loving plants can grow which support a range of rare and important butterfly species such as the Small Blue (Cupido minimus) and Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae). Today the grassland, scrub and woodland plus the blue pool provide a rich mosaic of habitats for local wildlife. There are fantastic views from the top of the mound all the way into Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. The large piece of metal winding gear at the top of the mound, which now forms a monument, was discovered when we acquired the reserve in 2018 and the woodland was cleared to provide open corridors for wildlife. It represents the area's heritage, and the opportunity provided by this fantastic site for people and wildlife. The site will be managed to control scrub on the grassland and continue to provide a diverse structure of habitats to accommodate and attract a variety of important wildlife.
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As a member, your subscription will help look after local wildlife and our amazing nature reserves across Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull. You'll receive a range of benefits, including free entry to over 65 local nature reserves, with member only free car parks where available, and our Wild Warwickshire magazine three times a year.
