Tuthill Quarry is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the County Durham district of north-east County Durham, England. It lies just over 1 km east of the village of Haswell.

Tuthill Quarry
Map showing the location of Tuthill Quarry
Map showing the location of Tuthill Quarry
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationMAGiC MaP
Nearest townPeterlee
Coordinates54°46′48″N 1°23′51″W / 54.78000°N 1.39750°W / 54.78000; -1.39750
Area10.71 ha (26.5 acres)
Established1994
Governing bodyNatural England
WebsiteTuthill Quarry SSSI

The site occupies part of a disused quarry, in which have developed areas of primary and secondary magnesian limestone grassland. Such grassland is largely confined to County Durham and increasingly scarce even there. The grasslands at Tuthill Quarry are typical of the type, being characterised by the presence of blue moor-grass, Sesleria albicans, and small scabious, Scabiosa columbaria, but a number of less common species are also present, including common butterwort, Pinguicula vulgaris, and adder's-tongue fern, Ophioglossum vulgatum. There is a small patch of the nationally scarce bird's-eye primrose, Primula farinosa, and one of the few records from lowland Durham of lesser clubmoss, Selaginella selaginoides, is from this site. [1]

References

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  1. ^ "Tuthill Quarry : Reasons for SSSI status" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 1 April 2022.