Latterbarrow Nature Reserve
This 4.4 hectare reserve consists of grassland, woodland, and scrub. It is replete with over 200 species of flowering plants and ferns and is a haven for butterflies. The reserve is underlaid with limestone which is visible in many places as the soil is thin.
In the woodland are ash, yew, oak, birch, holly, and Lancastrian white-beam. Flowering plants in the woods include bluebells, wood sorrel, dog's mercury, and wild garlic. Violets like the edge of the woods. Ferns and mosses grow in the deep shade.
The grassland is home to cowslip, purple and green-winged orchid, butterfly orchid and columbine. Later in the summer common rockrose, knapweed, autumn gentian, kidney vetch, betony, and others appear. Birch, hawthorn, and blackthorn also thrive in the grassland area.
The lemon-yellow brimstone butterfly heralds the spring at Latterbarrow. The northern brown argus butterfly can be found here, its caterpillar likes the common rockrose for food. The speckled wood butterfly is found in the sunlit areas of the woods, and peacock butterflies feed on the nectar of the knapweed at the end of the season. The common blue likes the habitat found at Latterbarrow.
Open to the public
Location: Witherslack; From A590 to Witherslack turn left at Derby Arms pub down old A590 dead end road; park on this road.
Map Reference:
OS 1:50,000
Sheet No 97
SD 439 828
Photos courtesy Graeme Dougal and Tony Richards
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