Reinforcing its commitment to protecting and enhancing biodiversity, independent company Longcliffe Quarries Ltd is celebrating eight years of sponsoring Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (DWT), the charity which aims to protect species and wild spaces in the area.

As well as being one of many Derbyshire-based organisations to commit to an annual membership, Longcliffe also partners with the charity in the management of two nature reserves in former operational sites: Peak Quarry and Hoe Grange Quarry.

These two sites clearly show how previously operational quarries can be restored with respect for local flora and fauna and deliver biodiversity benefits for the long-term.

Hoe Grange - a disused limestone quarry - is an important hub for biodiversity in the county*. It is rich in a range of flora and fauna including birds and amphibians, as well as the butterflies for which it is most well-known. Of the 32 species of butterfly found in Derbyshire, 29 have so far been recorded at Hoe Grange, including the endangered Wall Brown.

In a ‘Citizen Science’ project, DWT will be working with Butterfly Conservation East Midlands to run volunteer-led transects to continue to record the rich diversity of butterflies discovered in this wildlife-rich five-hectare reserve.

Peak Quarry also boasts a wide variety of butterflies and other wildlife with the limestone grasslands and small ponds providing rich habitats.

Longcliffe’s Group Planning and Estates Manager John Bradshaw went along to Peak Quarry to meet DWT’s Fundraising Officer Nicole Benjamin, to take delivery of the company’s membership certificate, and check in on the latest biodiversity developments at the site.

“We are pleased to be able to continue our partnership with DWT, not only with our annual membership, but also with our practical work with them at the nature reserves in our former operational quarries,” says John.

“Also, DWT provide a valuable source of expertise and guidance when it comes to creating wildlife habitats to achieve restoration objectives for our operational quarries.”

“Supporting this charity’s vital work to protect and enhance wild spaces in the County complements Longcliffe’s own commitment to improving biodiversity where we can, adding to the living landscape of the Derbyshire Dales.”

Nicole Benjamin, Fundraising Officer at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust added: “A huge thank you to Longcliffe for their continued support as a corporate partner of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. Celebrating eight years of partnership is a fantastic milestone, and their commitment has made a real difference to our nature recovery plans and rewilding projects across Derbyshire.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have developed long-standing partnerships with local and regional businesses who share our concern for nature. Through their membership, donations, fundraising and ongoing support, partners like them help us achieve far more for wildlife and people than we ever could alone.”

*Please note that Hoe Grange is only open to the public on special event days. It is also currently not open due to rockface safety improvements being carried out. If you would like to arrange access to either reserve, please contact [email protected].

Derbyshire-based Longcliffe Quarries Ltd has joined forces with nearby Wirksworth Running Club to boost its three running events for 2026.

Longcliffe, a family-owned independent company which produces over 100 calcium carbonate-based products, is a major supporter of charitable and community projects in the area around its operations.

Partnering the 21-year-old Running Club - which has over 100 members from the Wirksworth, Cromford, Kirk Ireton, Brassington areas – Longcliffe has sponsored both the banners and the specially commissioned race winners’ medals for the three major running events for 2026 which each attract around 400 runners.

The first event, ‘The Incline’ took place on Sunday 12 April. After 139 runners took on the 6.4km, 208 metres climb race, Longcliffe’s Operations Director Chris Wainwright presented the winners with the unique medals which have been created by local ceramicist Hannah Buchanan.

The winners were Reuben Orr (25:38) for the men and Constance Jenneson (29:24) for the women who returned to successfully defend her title.

At the same time a further 20 runners aged between 11 and 14 took on the ‘Short Incline’ with outstanding performances by Joe Mosley (boys) and Matilda Smith (girls) who both set new course records.

Earlier in the morning 22 children aged 6-10 ran a hilly 800m course and competed in the Wendy Smith Juniors race.   

The next two major runs will be ‘Tunnels & Trails’ (10km & 2.5km options) on Wednesday 10th June at 7.30pm; and the ‘Undulator’ fell race (13.5km - 384m climb) on Sunday 27th September @ 11am. The winners of each of these races will also receive the distinctive Longcliffe-sponsored ceramic medals.

Simon Edwards of Wirksworth Running Club says: “Our Incline Race winners really appreciated the beautiful race medals we commissioned from local ceramicist Hannah Buchanan. Many thanks to Longcliffe Community Fund for its generous support to making this happen and supporting all our races in 2026 – it’s made a real difference.”

Longcliffe Group Managing Director Paul Boustead adds: “We are delighted to support this well-established Club with a genuine community-focused ethos. It was a real pleasure for us to meet the winners of the Incline and present them with their tailormade medals. We look forward to hearing how the other two major fell races go, and to following the continued success of this Club.”

To find out more about the upcoming races or what else the Club offers, please visit https://wirksworthrunningclub.org.uk/

 For those of all abilities who want to give running in a group a try there’s a range of activities available locally. They include:

·       Sunday, 8am - Run Confident, a running group aimed at those who might never have ran before but just want to get fitter OR for those who have had an injury and may have lost fitness. See https://www.facebook.com/runconfidentwithwrc for more details

·       Mondays, 6.30pm - a training session designed so that anyone of any fitness level is never left behind whilst getting a lot from the sessions in terms of fitness gains. Meet up-locations vary but are mostly at BlackRocks (top of Cromford Hill)

·       Wednesdays, 6.30pm - a 6-10k run - usually splitting into 2/3 groups of varying speed including 'conversational' designed to allow participants to converse! Meet up-locations vary but are mostly outside Wirksworth Leisure Centre

·       For more details please take a look at the Members section of the Club's website see https://wirksworthrunningclub.org.uk/ or contact the Club via Facebook

·       Black Rocks Parkrun (5K run/jog / walk) – not a Wirksworth Running Club event but you will usually see Club members running or supporting. See https://www.parkrun.org.uk/blackrocks/