Brown End Quarry

Limestone cliffs tower above this old quarry site, now transformed into a proper wildlife haven that's surprisingly peaceful given its industrial past. The Staffordshire Wildlife Trust manages Brown End Quarry as a nature reserve, and it's developed into one of those places where orchids thrive in the chalky soil and kestrels hunt from the cliff edges. Walking the marked trails, you'll spot everything from common spotted orchids to the rarer bee orchid if you time it right in early summer. The quarry floor has filled with scrubland and grassland that attracts butterflies - look out for marbled whites and dingy skippers on sunny days. It's not a massive site, so you can cover it comfortably in an hour or two, though keen botanists and birdwatchers will want longer. Children might find it a bit tame unless they're into wildlife spotting, but it's free to wander and the paths are generally easy going. The reserve sits between Stoke-on-Trent and the Peak District proper, making it a decent stop if you're staying at one of the nearby sites like Alton camping club or Ashbourne Heights. Best visited between May and August when the wildflowers are at their peak and the bird activity is highest.