Magnesian limestone grassland is uncommon in the UK but supports a wide range of plants and invertebrates. The dolomite or limestone has weathered to form thin lime-rich soils on which unique wildflower meadows have developed.

Looking at natural sites can give you ideas for your own garden. Early spring is a good time to visit when the cowslips and early orchids are in flower. By mid july the meadows should be at there peak with flowers and insects. Depending on the ph of your garden soil you will be able to plan where what and how to grow Lime loving plants. My natural clay soil errs towards acidic so I have long struggled to grow thymes, saxifrages and scaboius but I have happily grow Rock Roses. Having seen the plants in situe I can now modify my own garden conditions.

Plants from these Limestone Areas

• Rock Rose  Helianthemum the only home for the eggs of the Northern Brown Argus butterfly
• Small Scabious
• Hay Rattle drains energy from normal grases preventing them from dominating the grassland
• Dark Red Heleborine native orchid
• Bee Orchid which has a flower which mimics bees to attract polination
• Blue Moor grass found only in a few sites in North East England

Sites of Magnesian Limestone

• Thislington Plantation – Castle Eden Dean, Stanhope Chase Co Durham A seed collection programme is managed at this site
• Bishop Middleham Quarry Durham wildlife trust.
• Natural England Trust manages several key sites
• durham University botanic garden has a special interest in gardening with this type of soil

Comments on Chalk and Limestone Gardening Book

• Many other works include sections on difficult gardeneing conditions but this is based on practical experience.
• It advocates working with the soil rather than taking drastic measures to alter its nature.
• Improve the soil as most gardeners would rather than fighting nature.
• Contains many suggestions to cope with the inevitable lime induced chlorosis some plants might suffer.